SERINE SANNEH has played alongside some of the biggest stars in Europe.
At the age of 15 he represented England alongside the likes of Jude Bellingham, Jamal Musiala and Cole Palmer to name a few.
However, a horrific knee injury stopped him from taking the same path.
The former West Ham academy star now plays for non-league side Rusthall FC having recovered from the devastating setback.
But he is thrilled to see his former England team-mates shining on the big stage.
Sanneh discussed his time in the Three Lions set-up during an exclusive chat with SunSport ahead of the Euro 2024 quarter-finals.
“I remember the first day I went to the England camp and, obviously I’d just spent my whole life at West Ham so that was a comfortable environment,” he recalls.
“Then all of a sudden you’re at the England camp and you’re playing the best of the best and it was just crazy.
“The ability that everybody had there – less mistakes, obviously the standard was a bit higher, it was crazy.”
Three players in particular stood out to him at the time – Bellingham, Bayern Munich ace Musiala and former Newcastle winger Amadou Diallo, who is now a free agent.
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“Speaking about Jude, he did stand out because he was a skilful player.
“But I remember he was training up with Musiala and there was one guy called Amadou Diallo, I think it was those three that were training up. Yeah, at the time Jude, he was very good. Musiala as well.
“Obviously I hadn’t really played against Jude that much, it was my first time actually meeting him because he was playing for Birmingham.
“But Jamal Musiala, I played against him while he was at Chelsea so I knew that he was very good.
“It’s funny, I think a player at the time, we were U15s, had never gone one-v-one and dinked me. The first ever time it was Jude Bellingham! I was shocked!
“I was like, ‘yeah, this is crazy!’ When you’re playing against them it’s different because their shooting is a lot better and as a keeper, you have to make an outstanding save against them.
“Yeah, they just can finish. I think the best finisher out of the three was probably Diallo, but they could all finish.”
Sanneh still remains in contact with Bellingham.
In fact, he made sure to congratulate the England midfielder on his Euro 2024 last-16 heroics following Sunday’s 2-1 win over Slovakia.
Bellingham scored a stunning bicycle kick to equalise before Harry Kane went on to net the winner.
“It was very good! That was the goal I messaged him about and said congratulations because it was a very big goal.
“He seems to be in the right position at the right time every time. But he deserves it because I know how hard he works and he’s very talented.”
Sanneh always knew the midfielder had a special gift – even when they were both playing for the U15s.
“I feel like when you have a lot of talent, when you believe, and I’m not saying Jude was ahead of himself but he was confident in a way that’s good.
“He knows ‘okay, I’m good at football, it’s time to show these guys why I’m here.’ Because he was training up an age group. He was coming in and doing so well, so he was very, very good.
“Sometimes it’s good to show that confidence because that’s how you’re going to play well.
“If you show that throughout your career, like he has done, building up his way from Birmingham City, kept going and into the first team.
“He played well and just kept getting more confident, got his move to Dortmund and now looks good to show that. Otherwise I don’t think he’d be in the position he is now.”
Like his former team-mate Musiala – who now plays for Germany – Sanneh made the decision to switch international allegiance after two years in the England set-up.
At just 18-years-old he was given the opportunity to play for Gambia’s U20s – a new challenge that he relished.
“It was a very proud moment playing for Gambia, very proud to play for my African team.
“At the time I was standby for England because I wasn’t really playing as much at West Ham. Complications happened at West Ham, nothing to do with my football ability or attitude-wise, they were out of my control I’d say.
“I wasn’t really getting picked for England and then I think Gambia, we had an upcoming tournament, U20s, and I was still 18 at the time so I got picked to go. I’d played a few matches before and they saw my clips, it was very good but different.”
Having played non-league football since recovering from a severe meniscus tear in 2022, Sanneh is now looking to the future with a sense of belief and optimism.
But in the mean time he is loving life with Southern Counties side Rusthall.
“My ambitions are obviously to get back to where I belong and where I deserve. Obviously I’m working hard everyday.
“I’m at a club where I’m enjoying my football and the managers. I love them to bits because they’re letting me play how I play.
“Everyday I’m training hard and luckily now I’m performing how I was before. I even think I’ve improved in terms of my goalkeeping.
“I can’t really know where I see myself in the next few years but I know it’s something good because I know behind the scenes I’m working very hard to get back to where I need to be.”
Sanneh has even enlisted the help of close friend Anthony Elanga, who currently plays for Nottingham Forest, in training.
“I have friends like Anthony Elanga, who I was with a few days ago. We were doing a shooting competition.
“He was doing good shooting, I was making good saves and we were just talking about how he came up as well, what was difficult for him.
“I speak to him and he tells me that he knows one day I’ll be back to where I need to be.”
