Sartori arrives in Uruguay
Juan Sartori arrived at the Carrasco International Airport in Montevideo yesterday afternoon and was met by journalists who quizzed him on his political ambitions.
The Sunderland board member had been expected in Uruguay this month to announce his his candidacy for president of Uruguay, and on his arrival he discussed joining the National Party, whose banner he is expected to run under during the election:
I share the ideas of the National Party, its historical values. I joined the National Party.
This week what I’m going to do is meet with a number of people who contacted me, and listen, and study. I do not take the decisions from one day to the next.
I’m going to meet with all the people that have time and if I can, of course, with the detractors. Maybe they did not understand the information well or they do not know me well.
When he was specifically asked if he was going to be a candidate, Sartori responded:
I do not confirm or deny anything for now.
The Uruguayan has received criticism, with the company he founded - UAG - having to defend themselves over rumours surrounding his involvement this week, and Sartori said he wished to defend UAG and himself from political attacks:
This is an opportunity to come face to face and clarify a lot of things that have been said.
I was struck by the fact that any political rumor is used to attack a company that is very important and that I support very much,
I was also struck by the amount of attacks and criticism from many political leaders on something I have not yet confirmed.
I do not believe that politics has an owner in Uruguay, at the end of the day, what happens if a Uruguayan got into politics because he loves the country? Is that bad?
Sartori ended by promising that if he does confirm anything, he will be the one to announce it:
So far I have no confirmed anything, the first one to comment and to be in contact with is going to be me. I promise you, they will all be aware.
Stockley rumour killer
Sunderland have been linked with a move for Exeter City forward Jayden Stockley this week, with the Daily Star credited with starting the rumour.
When Stewart Donald appeared on Total Sport on BBC Radio Newcastle last week, he mentioned the possibility of signing a new striker during the January transfer window, saying:
Jack would like a couple potentially. We may look at a striker depending on - making sure Charlie [Wyke] comes back. I think we are comfortable in midfield, we think we have got enough wingers.
Possibly a centre-back addition, top-end and back-end of the pitch just to make sure we have got enough numbers and enough quality.
That interview spurred Devon Live to hypothetically suggest that Sunderland may target Stockley after we were linked with a move for the front man in the summer.
Sky Sports had credited Jack Ross with an interest in the Grecians striker but said he was focusing his efforts on the signing of Charlie Wyke, which saw the Bradford City forward joining the club in August.
Unless Wyke has a set back in his recovery from injury, it seems very unlikely that the club will use their limited transfer funds on another target man.