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

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

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.”

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).

GFFN | George Boxall

 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

The hamstring issue means that the former Porto man will miss several of PSG’s upcoming matches against Montpellier this weekend, followed by Milan in the UEFA Champions League next week, and the following Ligue 1 clash against Stade de Reims.

A potential return against AS Monaco on the 24th November could be on the cards, depending on the speed of Danilo’s recovery.

PSG will thus be a defender down when facing Montpellier on Friday evening (21:00 CET), but should be buoyed by the return of Marquinhos to the squad. Meanwhile, the communiqué confirms that Keylor Navas will be rested due to lower back pain against Montpellier, and that Nuno Mendes and Presnel Kimpembe are still following their respective recoveries from injury.

GFFN | George Boxall

Martinez mocked Mbappé in the wake of Argentina’s World Cup final victory. The Paris Saint-Germain forward netted past Aston Villa goalkeeper Martinez on four occasions during the final (including once in the penalty shoot-out). Post-match, Martinez called for a minute’s silence for the now-France captain before immediately breaking that silence and leading the chants in the dressing room. He then posed with a doll of the Frenchman during the trophy celebrations back in Argentina. 

Martinez made an apology of sorts in February, stating that he “didn’t want to hurt anyone” and that it was just “a joke” with his teammates that should “never have left the dressing room.” 

However, the Yashin Trophy winner spoke much more highly of Mbappé in Paris. The PSG forward came third in this year’s edition of the Ballon d’Or, behind Erling Haaland and winner Lionel Messi, however, Martinez has backed Mbappé to win the prestigious prize “lots” of times in the coming years.

“It isn’t because of nothing that he is considered one of the best in the world. I have a lot of respect for him as a player and as a person. Kylian is an example to follow. He is phenomenal. Winning a World Cup, and scoring a hat-trick in the final in the following edition, all the French people should be proud of a player like him. When Leo (Messi) and (Cristiano) Ronaldo retire, Kylian will follow the same path as them. He will win a lot of Ballon d’Or,” said Martinez. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle