French striker Djibril Cisse is happy with his decision to join Sunderland.

"When I talked to Roy Keane he made me really feel good," Cisse told The Guardian.

"He's really straight, he's passionate and he knows exactly what he wants. He made me think that he really wanted me and that he wanted to get Sunderland as high as possible.

"He was a big player who has won many titles," he added. "We're really lucky to have a manager like this."

The Frenchmen has revealed he was fully aware of being linked to other clubs before he decided to make the move to Sunderland but that England, and not Italy, was always his desired destination.

"There were rumours about Manchester City wanting me but only rumours, nothing concrete.

"Then I was linked to Roma, but Italy is not my cup of tea."