A wave of returns has hit Ligue 1 among the French world champions. Paul Pogba, Florian Thauvin and Olivier Giroud have all three chosen to return to France. And if the first named still has to be patient before finally putting on the AS Monaco jersey, his two former teammates in the France team have made a thunderous debut. Enough to prove them right.
However, by his own admission, Olivier Giroud has long ruled out the idea of a return to France. “Two or three years ago, if you had asked me about a return to France, I might not have thought about it,” he told L’Equipe, adding: “When president Olivier Létang called me, the project ticked a lot of boxes, like working with Bruno (Genesio, his trainer). »
Olivier Giroud approached by OM and OL
Many other French clubs have also tried, in recent years, to convince him to return to France. This was particularly the case this summer in Lorient where his friend Laurent Koscielny works. But the Merlus could hardly compete with the Mastiffs.
And according to him, some big teams in Ligue 1 have tried their chances in the recent past. “A few seasons ago, I also had opportunities in Marseille, Lyon,”
he revealed, adding: “Olivier (Létang) had also tried to sign me for Rennes but, when I left Chelsea, I had AC Milan asking me, it was not an option to return to France. I recently saw a photo of myself as a kid in my room with the Milan poster. It was obvious! »
