Ex-Liverpool star says he felt ‘used’ by El-Hadji Diouf after late night episode
Former Liverpool defender Jon Otsemobor recalled how he felt ‘used’ by El-Hadji Diouf when the striker hosted a party at his flat.
Diouf arrived at Anfield in 2002 with a big reputation after starring for Senegal at the World Cup that summer.
However, he flopped for Gerard Houllier’s side, scoring just six goals in 80 appearances before being sold to Bolton.
During Diouf’s short stay with the Reds, Otsemobor was a young right-back trying to force his way into the first-team picture.
And the Liverpudlian recalled how, after moving into an apartment on the city’s Albert Dock, he was woken at 2am by Diouf ringing his doorbell.
(Image: Press Association)
Otsemobor told how Diouf was stood at his door with around 10 revellers – despite the fact that both players had training later that day.
“When an older pro like that approaches you, you feel obliged,” Otsemobor told the Liverpool Echo last summer.
“I was still a young lad and I was just disappointed thinking he took my friendship and used it. I felt at the time, when I went into the dressing room, you can’t just use me like that, I’m your friend.
“If he needed a place to stay and all that, fine, but I’m not hosting parties for all different people who were flying into the country every weekend!”
Despite Diouf rubbing him up the wrong way on that occasion, Otsemobor maintains that his former team-mate was misunderstood.
“Other than that though, I know a few other lads in the dressing room didn’t like him, but I never had a problem with him,” he added.
“He did, at times, come across arrogant but don’t get me wrong, he was a good footballer.
“I think from where he was in Senegal, and the upbringing he come through, he was looked upon as a God over there.
“He was doing well, outstanding at the World Cup before he came to Liverpool, and Liverpool paid £10million for him.
“I think he still had that persona about him, that God-like persona. When he came into the dressing room it wasn’t long before he found out there were a lot of other lads there either as good as him or better than him.
“Maybe he didn’t get the respect off some of them that he would have thought but I never seen him have bust-ups or arguments with anyone. I don’t recall any, anyway.”
Otsemobor, now 37, made six appearances for Liverpool, joining Rotherham United in 2005 following loan spells with Hull City, Bolton and Crewe Alexandra.
He later returned to Crewe and also played for Norwich, Southampton, Sheffield Wednesday, MK Dons and Tranmere before hanging up his boots in 2014.
