Joseph Paintsil, a Genk winger, says that his own mother wanted him to join Southampton before a trade to the Championship club fell through.
With things threatening to turn poisonous just months into Russell Martin’s rule – the hangover from a dismal 2022/23 season was on full display as Southampton lost nine goals in their previous two games – perhaps Joseph Paintsil is better off remaining put after all.
According to Genk director Dimitri de Conde, the Ghana international was intended to join the Saints as part of a deal that would see Paul Onuachu return to his old club; the former eventually having cold feet and opting against a move to a side presently tenth in England’s second division.
‘Mum knows best,’ they remark. But not so, according to Paintsil.
Joseph Paintsil is unavailable to Southampton and Leeds.
“A number of people, whose opinions I value, advised me to go. Even my mother advised me to choose a transfer!” Het Laaste Nieuws quotes Paintsil. “‘Joseph, Southampton is a good club,’ remarked my godfather. You’re going to kill it there’.
“But my heart said ‘no’.”
Paintsil, a constant threat from his favoured right-wing role, scored 18 goals and set up 14 more during a dazzling campaign last year. He will now be hoping to replicate those stunning statistics this term, while former sparring partner Onuachu looks to kick-start his career alongside Mislav Orsic at Trabzonspor.
“Onuachu was a very intensive file. You should know that Paul absolutely wanted to return,” De Conde tells Tech Talk.
“We were prepared as a club to make Onuachu the biggest incoming transfer for Genk ever, on a financial level. That had all been worked out. But, for Southampton, that would have to be done with an exchange with Joseph Paintsil.
“(Paintsil) wanted to stay, at the end of the day.”
‘Wanted to stay’
In addition to Southampton, Championship rivals Leeds United made an £8.5 million approach for Paintsil in August, with Daniel Farke’s side believing Genk had’moved the goalposts’ at the last minute (Sky Sports).
