Revealed at Stade Rennais before exploding on the side of Bordeaux and joining Arsenal and then Lyon in particular, Sylvain Wiltord was mainly known by the general public during the Euro 2000. It was he who enabled the French team to win in extremis the extensions during the final against Italy, equalizing at the end of the additional time.
This summer, in 2000, Sylvain Wiltord also experienced a big change. Indeed, the former striker now aged 51 left Bordeaux to engage with Arsenal, for almost 20 million euros. A transfer that took time to materialize since it was not until the last day of the transfer window so that the two clubs finally find common ground. Which had consequences in the career… of Frédéric Déhu.
The ex-defenseman, then in Barcelona, had at that time an agreement to join Bordeaux, who awaited the funds of the transfer of Wiltord to Arsenal to finalize his arrival. But seeing that the departure of the Martinican dragged and could potentially condom, he finally decided at the last moment to put his suitcases in Paris.
DĂ©hu: “The transfer of Sylvain Wiltord to Arsenal was slow, was slow, delayed …”
“If I have other offers than Paris when I left for Barcelona (in 2000)? So, yes. You should know that I have to sign in Bordeaux. Normally, I have to sign in Bordeaux because Bordeaux is a body to transfer Sylvain Wiltord to Arsenal. They want to use the transfer money to pay for my transfer from Barcelona. I had already agreed with Bordeaux leaders “Said FrĂ©dĂ©ric DĂ©hu in the legends podcast.
And to continue: ” The transfer of Sylvain Wiltord to Arsenal was slow, was late, on the evening of August 30, Jean-Luc Lamarche, whom I had as sports director in Lens, calls me. He asks me if Paris' interests … I tell him that I gave my agreement in Bordeaux, and that we have to wait for Wiltur's departure to Arsenal, otherwise it cannot be done. He said to me “You know what, come to Paris, tomorrow we play against Saint-Etienne, you are witnessing the match. If things do not advance on the side of Bordeaux, at least you will be on site in Paris and we can settle things fairly quickly. ” I tell him ok. »»
“I went up to Paris, I attended the match, and the victory of PSG 5-1. And then things did not advance … Paris gave me a proposal and I said OK, Banco. But at the base, I have to sign in Bordeaux “Concluded the former tricolor international (5 selections), who spent four seasons at PSG, before joining the Honni enemy, OM.
