Costel Pantilimon has made a bold prediction ahead of Sunderland’s 2024/25 season.
Costel Pantilimon joined Sunderland from Manchester City in 2014 and eventually replaced Vito Mannone as the first-choice goalkeeper.
The Romanian was a fan favourite during his spell at the club, picking up eleven clean sheets in 28 appearances in his first campaign, despite the relegation battle.
Pantilimon went onto lose his place the following season though and was eventually sold to Watford in January 2016.
The shot-stopper went onto play for Nottingham Forest, before retiring with Denizlispor in 2021.
Despite leaving the Stadium of Light eight years ago, Pantilimon has still been cheering Sunderland on from afar and has made a bold prediction ahead of next season.
Costel Pantilimon has high hopes for Sunderland
As per Sunderland Echo, the 37-year-old said: “I was so disappointed last season when they lost in the playoffs to come up because I know how much the people love the club and how passionate they are regarding the football club.
“New investors have come in, the strategy is a bit different with a different mindset. They want to go up. This season was not probably the best but next season they will compete for promotion. Sunderland are one of the most historical clubs in England, you want to see them in the Premier League.
“I had great memories there, even though I came from City where we were fighting for winning trophies, but going to Sunderland and trying to stay up, the pressure and the love from those people and the club is something different. It’s something different for English football. I think they deserve to be in the Premier League.”
What do Sunderland need to do to meet his expectations?
Sunderland would realistically have to perform a miracle to be in with a chance of promotion next season.
The Black Cats did brilliant in their first campaign back in the Championship, but losing Amad Diallo, Danny Batth and Ross Stewart cost them big time.
The only way Sunderland can bring that quality back to their play is replacing all three of their former assets, because they never managed to do that and it had a really negative effect on their creativity especially.
The success of next season will obviously depend on who they bring in as manager too, but fans understandably have little faith in the board to do so successfully.
The season can go one of two ways and that could well be determined over the next few weeks. Though what Sunderland certainly don’t want is to get to the transfer window next week and still be no closer to appointing a head coach.