00:01For Habib Diara, the transition of the banks of the Rhine to the north-east coast has been
00:06defined by a single word, family. Sunderland's record, £30m signing arrived with a pedigree
00:13that saw him courted by the likes of AC Milan and Atletico Madrid, yet the 22-year-old chose
00:19the project at the Stadium of Light, drawn by the tactical reputation of Reggie Labrie.
00:24It has been a whirlwind few years for the Senegal international. After captaining Strasbourg
00:30at just 20, Diara recently returned from Morocco with an African Cup of Nations winner's medal,
00:36a feat that has only bolstered the quiet confidence he carries through the Academy of Light. Despite
00:42a frustrating groin injury that hampered his integration in the autumn, Diara is now fully
00:46fit and finding his rhythm in midfield, anchored by the veteran leadership of Granit Xhaka.
00:52The coach always says to us that we're like family here, Diara explained. Under Labrie,
00:57Diara enjoys a tactical framework with freedom, a style of play that allows him to utilise the
01:03game intelligence. He joined under the former mentors Patrick Vieira and Liam Rossinia.
01:10With Sunderland currently boasting an unbeaten home record and European qualification appearing
01:14as a realistic target, Diara's adaptation is complete. From his roots in Gualiai to the rainy afternoons
01:22on Wearside, the midfielder is simply at home and is ready to lead Sunderland's charge.
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