Genk sporting director Dimitri De Conde has opened up on the emotional circumstances surrounding Paul Onuachu’s departure to Southampton back in January 2023, defending the decision to let the striker leave.
Onuachu left the Belgian club at 28 years old for what was widely viewed as a career-defining opportunity to test himself in the Premier League.
Softfootball notes that De Conde revealed just how personal the decision was for the striker at the time. He revealed:
Paul was 28 years old, and he absolutely wanted to leave because it was the chance of a lifetime, for a contract that would not come back a second time. He begged me in tears to let him go.
De Conde acknowledged that Genk’s form suffered following the departure, with the club faltering in their title race soon after, but insisted the decision remained the right one given the context.
Reflecting on the situation, he said:
We were in a title race, yes, but Paul was at a crucial stage in his career. This was a major step up for him, a chance to play in one of the biggest leagues in the world.
