Stephen Ireland has revealed the true extent of Saido Berahino’s ridiculous behaviour during his time at Stoke City, revealing Berahino would get fined for arriving late even though he would be at training before Ireland.
The duo played together at Stoke under Mark Hughes, where he was given a Premier League lifeline after falling out of favour at West Brom.
Saido Berahino broke on to the scene in 2013/2014 with West Brom, making his debut for the club as he looked like he was destined for the top. In 2014-2015, he really kicked on, scoring 20 goals in all competitions.
However, as clubs began to show interest in the striker, including Spurs, Berahino’s relationship with the club began to deteriorate, with manager at the time Tony Pulis leaving him out of the squad as his form went downhill.
#OnThisDay in 2013, Saido Berahino introduced himself to the Albion faithful with this winning goal away at Old Trafford 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Uf85cDnA0K
— The Baggies Bible (@TheBaggiesBible) September 28, 2021
This led to one of Stoke City’s questionable signings in 2017, with the club paying £12 million for his services in a hope to rediscover his early potential seen at West Brom.
However, in partnership with Ladbrokes, Stephen Ireland revealed the true extent of his poor attitude and discipline that saw him waste his talent.
“I personally got on with him really well, I rated him as a player, but he really doesn't help himself at times.
It doesn't take long for managers to dislike him, and you can see it from their point of view, to be fair to them. Saido isn't a bad guy, he's rebellious, and there does come a point where he loses his mind and sometimes causes storms on purpose.
But in terms of fines, I'm talking every single day. No matter what; every day for the whole season he'd be late. It's as if he just hangs outside of the building, looking at his clock, waiting for it to pass a certain time, then he jumps in 30 seconds late. It's like he wanted to maintain being fined; I just couldn't understand it.
He could come into the training ground before me; I'd pull up, and he'd be sitting in his car, on his phone. And then he'll be late into the building... it's a 30-yard walk, it made no sense. It was like he'd do it on purpose every single day.
There was one time in particular which springs to mind actually. We were in - the whole team - on a day off, because of him. We were told to come in on the Sunday after a match, and it was because of Saido. We all came in, Glen Johnson, Peter Crouch... everyone.
Some of the boys were travelling from London to Stoke every day for training, so they had to do that on their day off. Everyone turned up but Saido. We're all in the building, doing our weights, and Saido's sat at home, just refusing to come in!”
Since his disastrous time at Stoke City, Berahino has failed to settle at one club. From Belgian sides Zulte Waregem and Charleroi, to spending last season with Sheffield Wednesday.
These days, Berahino can be found at Greek side AEL Limassol, with Stephen Ireland disappointed to see his career go the way it did.
“He shouldn't be playing where he's playing right now. He's much better than his career in the last five or six years suggests. Looking at him, I think he thought he was invincible. I think he always thought he was going to be alright. Those couple of seasons at West Brom, I think he thought they would carry him for the rest of his career.
But every time summer comes around he's scrambling for a club now, and ending up in these mental countries. He's too good for all of that; way, way too good. I think he realised that a little bit too late.
He's quick, his movement was always so good and, as a finisher, he's absolutely clinical. I'm talking seriously good at finding the back of the net. I think he knows deep down that he's let himself down.
He shouldn't be where he is today, no chance. He's way, way too good for that. He just can't seem to claw things back, unfortunately, and it's a shame. It's a waste of a talent, it really is.”
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