French striker Djibril Cisse claims Sunderland went back on their word when they refused to make his loan move from Marseille permanent at the end of the season, he told The Guardian. "I went into the final game thinking that I was going to be taken on," Cisse says. "Because I had been told, when we are safe, we talk contracts. It's either a lie or a misunderstanding on my side but I think I understand English well enough to understand what that sentence means.

"I am angry because I had tried to talk to them in January about my future and the manager (Ricky Sbragia) said: 'Djib, you have to stop talking.' So I stopped talking.

"The chairman said that I had to wait until we are safe so I wait until the last day to hear: 'Thank you, we are not going to take up the option.' Luckily, I have opportunities at other clubs, otherwise I would be stuck."