'It’s a family atmosphere here': Sunderland's midfielder delights in good times at the Black Cats.

Formal or informal? It says a lot about the young Senegalese star that his delight at being promoted from Strasbourg’s Under-17s to the senior squad was mixed with worry over the two distinct words for “you.”

Would addressing new, established teammates by using “tu” be seen as disrespectful? Ultimately, the young midfielder played safe and chose the more formal “vous”. Cue widespread amusement from the veterans who told him not to be so ridiculous; he was one of them now.

Roughly half a decade later, Diarra is settled in an office at Sunderland’s Academy of Light explaining why he turned down offers from, among others, Milan, Atlético Madrid, Eintracht Frankfurt, Aston Villa and Leeds. His natural politeness endures but it is clear that the young Senegal international and uncertainty are practically unacquainted. Diarra carries himself with the confidence suited to a player who led Strasbourg at the age of 20 and, only last month, returned from Morocco holding an AFCON championship trophy.

A Defined Vision

Now that the groin issue that sidelined him for much of the first half of the domestic season healed, Diarra is on a mission to demonstrate precisely why he agreed to become Sunderland’s record £30m signing last summer. Analysts in France and Senegal queried Diarra’s surprising decision but he knew all about the manager's standing as a gifted youth coach.

“I haven’t been surprised by the coach’s capabilities because I already knew what he’s capable of,” says Diarra. “Playing against his teams I realised he was very good, very strong tactically. He’s someone I know is aiding my development. And although our first objective is reaching 40 points, European qualification is certainly a realistic target this season.”

A Unified Environment

Externally, the cold winter gusts and driving rain makes Wearside look as grim as it is often depicted. Internally, things are considerably warmer. The environment is devoid of the type of strain found in certain clubs where administrative staff are deliberately segregated from first-team players. Diarra portrays the environment as “very organic” and praises Le Bris’s role in its formation.

“The coach always says to us that we’re like a family here and we all support each other,” he says. “Each of us takes pride of each other.”

Liberty and Structure

If the organisation, discipline and sheer hard yards underpinning Sunderland’s defensive organization are a testament to the head coach’s meticulous eye for detail, Le Bris also likes his players to use their initiative. He offers his midfielders full freedom to improvise and swap roles.

“Our manager establishes his tactics out within a framework but we have license to play within it,” says Diarra, who favors playing as a box-to-box No 8. “During matches that feels good. That freedom is so important. Granit, our skipper, guides us a lot. He’s a really big player and a superb role model.”

Path and Settlement

Diarra is speaking through a French interpreter but his English has advanced to the point where he can understand most questions. He is now focusing on acquiring the language skills to also answer them, which would be his third language. He is fluent in Wolof, the language he spoke growing up in his hometown near Dakar.

His early maturity helped him deal with the frustration of needing groin surgery followed by four months on the sidelines last autumn. “Being injured so soon after arriving here was frustrating, for sure,” he says. “But it was up to me to handle the situation.”

Diarra is now anticipating playing in this summer’s World Cup. Given Senegal have been drawn in the same group as France, a poignant reunion awaits the former Les Bleus under-21 midfielder. “I enjoyed representing for France but my heart spoke,” says Diarra. “There’s no regrets. I was born in Senegal; it fills me with pride to play for them.”

Comparable feelings apply to Sunderland. “I've settled very well,” he says. “I feel really comfortable here.”