MANAGER Ralph Hasenhuttl insisted Moussa Djenepo was a “role model” for the effort and positivity he brought to Saints and added: “He is a very lively factor in this group.”
The Saints boss was speaking after the club this week announced the Mali international had signed a contract extension at St Mary’s until at least the summer of 2025.
After an impressive pre-season, winger Djenepo has featured in all of Saints’ top-flight outings this campaign, as well as filling in as an emergency left-back.
Asked about securing Djenepo to a new deal, Hasenhuttl said: “We know that we have now a very young team but we also need a few stabilities in the squad. I think this is also important.
“Moussa, I think especially with his character in the dressing room, also his positive attitude in the team, he is a very lively factor in this group.
“This is also a player who will learn to be flexible in all his challenges he had so far. I think he has played three or four positions in the team.
“This is exactly the kind of player we like to see here. I am sure he is still not on his absolute limit from his quality and from his performances.
“There is still a lot to come from him and that is the reason why we were looking forward to him signing a new contract.”
Signed from Standard Liege for a reported £14million in June 2019, Djenepo made just 12 top-flight appearances for Saints last season – starting on five occasions.
Asked how important Djenepo’s character was, Hasenhuttl replied: “I think it’s more and more important in football. We are living in a very quick-changing world.
“I think you have to be especially careful that you have - in this part – always people around. They are taking care about the club you are playing for.
“This is in the future for me – especially for the players that want to stay here longer. The most important part is they really care about the club, they try to give everything for as long as they are here.
“For Moussa, he is a role model example for the effort he puts in and the positivity he brings in the club.”
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