West Bromwich Albion got a big win over Newcastle United on Monday, but there are still troubles behind the scenes with Saido Berahino.
The 22-year-old striker has not started a match since October 31, and the Baggies’ boss Tony Pulis has been critical of the player’s attitude.
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Berahino came on as a second-half substitute in the 70th minute against Newcastle, but Pulis said he was “lucky to be on the bench,” although he did not talk about the specific reasons why.
Sometimes things go on at football clubs that you people don’t see and don’t realize. He’s a smashing kid but he lets himself down at times.
At times supporters don’t realize or understand what exactly goes on behind the scenes. I’ve always been a manager who wants the team to be a team, and that’s the supporters, the players, the management side and the directors.
Everybody [is] together but sometimes Saido does things that break away from that. He’s been told but at times you have to make him understand it’s about the team and about the group.
He is lucky to be on the bench, never mind starting.
After scoring 14 Premier League goals last season, Berahino was tabbed for a move to Tottenham Hotspur over the summer. However, West Brom rejected multiple bids from Spurs in what led to a highly publicized fallout between Berahino and the club’s chairman Jeremy Peace.
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While Berahino is undoubtedly a great talent, it seems his problems off the pitch have become too much to handle at The Hawthorns. With the January transfer window set to open, a move away from West Brom is looking more and more likely.