Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has questioned the reasoning behind striker Asamoah Gyan�s move to UAE outfit Al-Ain, whose last game drew just over 250 fans to their stadium.
The Ghana international made the move to Abu-Dhabi after the end of the transfer window, much to the surprise of everyone, including his manager.
Bruce is curious about the attacker�s intentions after leaving the Stadium of Light on a season-long loan for a new start in the Middle East.
The former Birmingham City manager told reporters: �I think the big thing was that we had to draw a line under it and get it done because it was rumbling on for weeks and weeks and weeks. �I never thought for one minute that he would contemplate going and playing [in Abu Dhabi], no disrespect, but I think the last home game they had something like 253 people which tells you where he�s going to play his football. So as I said last week we�ll let other people make their own conclusions as to why he�s gone.�
There was speculation over whether the striker would be heading out of Sunderland in the transfer window after rumours that he had fallen out with Bruce, but the Black Cats boss insists the team must carry on as they are and not be affected by the transition.
He continued: �I think we�ve got to draw a line under it. We move on, it�s as simple as that. We�re all disappointed he�s gone, a week�s gone and he�s not here and he�s not available for us so we have to move on.
�As I�ve always done in management if somebody�s desperate to move on then I won�t keep them because we�ve all tried as manager�s to keep them and unfortunately they then become disillusion and disruptive and before you know it leaves a bad taste.�
With Arsenal�s Nicklas Bendtner coming in on loan, Bruce is happy that at least Gyan has been replaced with another striker, despite the Ghanaian looking as though he was going to remain on Wearside just days prior to his move.
He said: �It looks as if we�ve brought Nic [Nicklas Bendtner] in and lost Asa [Gyan] so it�s been a trade-in if you like but I think the timing of Asa because we thought the transfer window had gone and after 48 hours before talking to him he was all in the mindset to roll up his sleeves and get started here. It didn�t happen and we move on.�
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