Di Canio explains Sess sale
Sessegnon, 29, was sold to West Brom for £6million on the transfer deadline just days after being charged with drink-driving.
The Benin was arrested in Newcastle while Sunderland were playing at home to MK Dons in the Capital One Cup.
Di Canio told the Daily Star: “I wanted to keep him but then I saw how he was in games and I was not impressed with his desire or his attitude.
“And then in our cup game – a crucial one for us – he was 20 miles away from the Stadium of Light and not with family.
“That was the final situation which gave me the chance to decide I couldn’t insist on him staying because, as a manager, I have to be more intelligent.
“He was not at the stadium, he was not at home and to me it suggested he did not care enough. So I said, ‘Go and good luck’.”