Pape Habib Gueye reveals Aberdeen FC transfer stance has come at a cost as striker cut adrift

Pape Habib Gueye has admitted he is playing catch-up because he had to take a hardline stance to force through his Aberdeen transfer.

The striker had made it clear to Kortrijk that he wanted to make the move to the Dons but they stalled on the deal for several weeks and the Senegal star ended up training himself and not being involved in first-team matches. The Belgian side eventually agreed a £500,000 deal at the end of the transfer window but it has meant the 23-year-old has had to work hard to get back up to full fitness and top match sharpness.

The Senegal striker admitted: “It was frustrating to wait so long for the move to happen because I didn’t want to stay there at Kortrijk. I wanted to come here because it is a good move for me. It is a fantastic club for me to develop myself and it was important for me to come here.

“The last international break was very good for me because I had not played a game for a long time because over in Belgium I was not training because I was waiting for the transfer. I didn’t train with the group and I didn’t play games, so I had to work on my own.

“It was really hard to make the deal between the two clubs so it took some time but, in the end, they found a way and I was pleased to sign. Now I have a little time with the international break to get fitter and more ready, this will be a big help for me.”

Gueye is determined to make the most of this opportunity after injury cruelly stopped him in his tracks at Kortrijk. Now he wants to repay Barry Robson and Aberdeen for having the faith to gamble on him.

He explained: “I was doing well in Belgium and a lot of teams from other countries were interested in me, but I got a bad injury. For almost one year, I didn’t play. So after that I