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Vous or Tu? It speaks volumes about the young Senegalese star that his delight at being promoted from Strasbourg’s Under-17s to the first team was tempered by worry over the two French words for “you.”

Was it appropriate to address new, older teammates by using “tu” be regarded as disrespectful? Ultimately, the promising talent opted for caution and selected the more formal “vous”. This prompted widespread amusement from the veterans who told him not to be so ridiculous; he was part of the group now.

“Once I received the first call with the coach, I reflected and said to my parents: ‘Sunderland’s where I want to be; that’s where I want to play.’ England's top flight was always a goal of mine and the coach presented me with a well-defined and appealing project.”

Almost five years later, Diarra is settled in an office at Sunderland’s Academy of Light explaining why he turned down offers from, among others, several top European clubs. His innate courtesy endures but it is evident that the 22-year-old Senegal international and uncertainty are virtual strangers. Diarra carries himself with the confidence befitting a player who led Strasbourg at the tender age of twenty and, only last month, returned from Morocco holding an AFCON winners’ medal.

A Clear Project

With the groin injury that sidelined him for much of the first half of the league campaign healed, Diarra is on a quest to show exactly why he agreed to become Sunderland’s most expensive acquisition last summer. Analysts in France and Senegal queried Diarra’s unfashionable choice but he knew all about Régis Le Bris’s standing as a talented youth coach.

“I haven’t been surprised by the coach’s capabilities because I already knew what he’s capable of,” says Diarra. “Facing his teams I realised he was very good, very strong tactically. He’s someone I know is helping my game progress. And although our first objective is reaching 40 points, a place in Europe is certainly a realistic target this season.”

A Unified Environment

Outside, the cold winter gusts and driving rain makes Wearside look as bleak as it is often stereotyped. Internally, things are considerably warmer. The environment is free of the type of strain notable at certain clubs where office workers are deliberately segregated from first-team players. Diarra portrays the environment as “very organic” and commends Le Bris’s role in its creation.

“The coach always says to us that we have a familial bond here and we all support each other,” he says. “We’re all proud of each other.”

Liberty and Structure

If the structure, rigor and immense effort underpinning Sunderland’s out-of-possession shape are a testament to the head coach’s meticulous eye for detail, Le Bris also likes his players to use their initiative. He offers his engine room players complete licence to be creative and swap roles.

“Our manager establishes his tactics out within a framework but we have license to play within it,” says Diarra, who favors playing as a box-to-box No 8. “Out on the pitch that feels good. That freedom is so important. Our captain, Granit, helps us a lot. He’s a massive influence and a superb role model.”

Journey and Adaptation

Diarra is using a French interpreter but his English has progressed to the point where he can understand most questions. He is now focusing on acquiring the vocabulary to also answer them, which would be his third tongue. He is fluent in Wolof, the language he spoke growing up in his hometown near Dakar.

His early maturity helped him deal with the frustration of needing an operation followed by four months out of action last autumn. “Being injured so soon after arriving here was disheartening, for sure,” he says. “But it was up to me to handle the situation.”

Diarra is now anticipating playing in this summer’s global tournament. Given Senegal have been drawn in the same group as France, a emotional matchup awaits the former Les Bleus under-21 midfielder. “I loved playing for France but my inner feeling prevailed,” says Diarra. “I have no remorse. I was born in Senegal; it fills me with pride to play for them.”

Comparable feelings apply to Sunderland. “I’ve adapted very well,” he says. “I feel really comfortable here.”