GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin
Mikautadze is not seen as an idealistic fit for the football that they hope to play at the Johan Cruyff Arena, and Ajax would like to sell the Georgian, Mohamed Toubache-Ter reports. The Eredivisie strugglers are hoping to generate interest from several Ligue 1 clubs, but the newly promoted side are strongly considering the return of the 23-year-old.
The Lyon academy graduate has struggled to make an impact in the Netherlands only making 4 appearances in the Eredivisie to date with Ajax finding themselves at the bottom of the table in the Dutch top flight. The Dutch giants are unlikely to let Mikautadze leave cheaply following their big outlay on the attacker in the summer which could make any move for Metz difficult.
GFFN | Liam Wraith
]]>Nice believe that the partial closure of the stand at the Allianz Riviera is down to the pyrotechnic devices used by fans during their match against OM on the 21st of October. The club go on to condemn the use of firecrackers in their statement, saying “firecrackers which add nothing to the atmosphere of the match and harm the Club and the vast majority of supporters.”
The INEOS-owned club have also argued that their fans have been “well-behaved”, both at home and during away games in recent months and are keen to ensure that their fans are not “stigmatized” for the behaviours of a few. Nice’s next home match is against Rennes on the 5th November.
GFFN | Liam Wraith
]]>
Gbamin is now close to joining the Ligue 2 club who currently occupy one of the French second division’s relegation spots. The former Mainz midfielder was keen to return to France and move closer to his family who currently reside in Lille. The 28-year-old was close to joining CSKA Moscow in 2022 but no move ever materialised.
The Ivorian midfielder will sign with Dunkerque on a contract until the end of the season. He spent last year on loan with Trabzonspor and made 20 appearances. Gbamin’s time at Everton was ravaged by injuries, with the midfielder missing a total of 99 games for club and country during his time on Merseyside.
GFFN | Liam Wraith
]]>The Armenian head coach reportedly called the former France international a “crybaby” to which Sakho did not respond too kindly and the altercation unfolded. Following the aftermath of the training ground incident, the 34-year-old has confirmed his departure from MHSC.
In his statement, Sakho has said that he “declines all responsibility” for the altercation with Michel Der Zakarian and puts the incident down to the reasoning behind “ending his collaboration with Montpellier”. The former Paris Saint-Germain defender thanked the players, who he called his “little brothers”, La Paillade’s sporting director, Bruno Carotti and club president Laurent Nicollin. Sakho’s statement includes no mention of Der Zakarian. The centre-back is now available as a free agent.
GFFN | Liam Wraith
]]>
Nearly a year later, Deschamps faced questions from the commission regarding the disruptions within sports federations and, in particular, his management of the Karim Benzema case during the 2022 World Cup.
To recap, Karim Benzema had to withdraw from the competition just three days before the French national team’s debut in the tournament. However, he had returned to training in mid-December, leading to various speculations about his departure from the squad.
Several months later, in March 2023, Benzema responded sharply to Deschamps, who had revisited his withdrawal. “But what audacity,” the former Lyon striker had reacted on his social media platforms, clearly unimpressed by the French national team manager’s explanation.
“I have no need to invent stories,” Deschamps emphasised during his testimony before the National Assembly’s commission of inquiry. “My choices are based on sporting decisions. I’m willing to delve into the details, but I’m not sure if this is the place to revisit the events that took place in Doha during the World Cup. I have spoken about it, and you have quoted some of my statements. Yes, in every situation, there is only one truth, but there are multiple versions. I won’t provide you with additional information to confirm that what I said is the truth. But it’s factual.”
He continued, “I said what happened. The situation unfolded exactly as I described it. If you want more details, I can provide you with text message exchanges. However, I don’t believe it will advance matters. For your information, if you are unaware, I am currently involved in legal proceedings against a journalist who dared to make certain claims. The legal process is underway, and the verdict will be rendered by the justice system. I have no need to invent stories. Whom will you believe between what you read or hear and what actually occurred? I’m not here to entertain. I’m stating what happened. With an ongoing legal procedure, I cannot provide detailed information.”
GFFN | George Boxall
]]>The Choc des Olympiques, which was due to take place last Sunday, was called off after the Lyon team bus was pelted with objects on the way to the Stade Vélodrome. Members of the away team’s staff, including manager Fabio Grosso, were injured – the Italian coach was notably seen entering the stadium with a bloodied face and required 13 stitches above his eye.
Labrune has indicated that the game will take place on December 6, but that the league commission will decide on the venue further down the line. This decision, he says, will be made once it has received “additional information from the authorities in order to guarantee the safety of all of those involved and attending” the fixture.
The league chief has added that, on an exceptional basis, the events of Sunday night will be assesed by the disciplinary commission “in their entirety”, in particular with regard to establishing responsibility for access to the Stade Vélodrome. Labrune went on to explain that Grosso had “my support and that of the league as a whole”:
“The acts of which he was the victim are serious and intolerable, and we will do everything in our power to ensure that the perpetrators are prosecuted and convicted.”
GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin
Gattuso spoke to the media ahead of OM’s match against Lille at the Véldorome. The italian revealed that he had a lengthy conversation with Grosso in a video call the day after the incident. Gattuso stated, “I’m really sorry for him, but I would have been sorry for anyone. I’m truly saddened by how things unfolded.”
Gattuso mentioned that Grosso’s injury could have been far more severe, “With Fabio, we talked about the luck he had. Just a few centimeters away, he could have lost an eye.”
“I didn’t talk much to him after the match. I’m really sad about the way things happened. (…) None of the supporters should feel represented by those who threw stones. It was supposed to be a celebration, so we didn’t take it well.”
Marseille’s Ligue 1 fixture against Lyon will now be reportedly played on 6th December, but with details on the venue and the presence of supporters yet to be laid out.
GFFN | George Boxall
]]>
“I think that if I were coach of the Spanish team, I’d select Warren every time,” Luis Enrique began on Thursday ahead of PSG’s 11th Ligue 1 clash of the season. “But I’m not the French or Spanish coach, so I can’t give the opinion of the French coach. But everyone can see what’s going on.”
“I didn’t discover him, Christophe Galtier did. A player with that profile… I saw him play last year, I saw him play down the flank. I see him playing well everywhere, wherever you put him,” enthused the Spanish coach. “He is exemplary and incredible and I can only thank him for what he does and I thank PSG for providing us with players of this quality. Warren is an example for all players who want to be professionals.”
Zaïre-Emery’s inexorable rise has been a positive boost for PSG at the start of the season. The Montreuil-born midfielder has been a nailed-on starter for Les Parisiens, and is reportedly set to be called up for the first time to Didier Deschamps’ France national team.
GFFN | George Boxall
]]>
Just over three years after being bought by RedBird, Toulouse could change ownership once again. A feasibility study has reportedly been launched by RedBird, according to unnamed sources close to the firm.
Chairman Damien Comolli has regularly referred to the “long-term commitment” of the American ownership, but several of RedBird’s associates (including owner Gerry Cardinale) had resigned from the board of directors to allow Les Violets to participate in European competition.
RedBird capital partners are also owners of Serie A side AC Milan, recent opponents of PSG in the Champions League (3-0).
]]>A former manager of Red Bull Salzburg, Olympiakos, and Celta Vigo, Garcia was sacked as Reims manager in October 2022 with the club sitting in 15th place. His assistant, Will Still, took the reins and guided the Champagne club to a historic unbeaten run, including two draws against French Champions Paris Saint-Germain.
Garcia’s sacking also came in the context of the deteriorating illness of his daughter, who tragically passed away only a month following his departure. During his time as manager he made several visits to Catalonia to support and visit his daughter, after the latest of which he was informed he was going to be sacked as Reims manager after winning only one game at that stage of the 2022-2023 season.
GFFN | George Boxall
]]>