However, his departure from AC Milan for Los Angeles seemed to mark the end of his career in Europe and at the highest level. However, at almost 39 years old and after a season that was complicated to say the least in MLS, at least sportingly, Olivier Giroud made his comeback in Ligue 1. Fifteen after leaving Montpellier with a French championship title, the Savoyard signed with Losc for a one-year contract.
By his own admission, this return would have seemed unthinkable to him only two or three years ago. But “the project ticked a lot of boxes, like working with Bruno Genesio”,
he told L’Equipe, adding: “Lille, for me who is very close to London and wants to live there after my career, it was perfect. »
“I didn’t have fifty options either,” he indicated. However, Saudi Arabia and China were also in the running, with much more lucrative contracts than the one offered by the Mastiffs. But the choice was quickly made. “If when I sign pro in Grenoble (in 2005), you tell me that I will earn this much in my career, I sign right away and I feel very lucky. I always said to myself: “If I am good on the field, then it will come and I will be able to protect my family”he said on this subject. Afterwards, the more you have, the more you want, and everyone makes their choices! I have always favored the sporting project, experiencing emotions. It's way above the financial aspect, it's my character. »
Modest salaries in National and Ligue 2
In the past, Olivier Giroud had already favored the sporting aspect over the financial side on several occasions. “When I am top scorer at Tours in L2 (in 2010), and I have L1 clubs on me, there are also Celtic and Middlesbrough who offer me three, four times more. I hesitated because, in addition, it would have been a great gateway to the Premier League. I finally opted for Montpellier”, he explained.
And Olivier Giroud remembers his emoluments when he played in National and Ligue 2. “In Grenoble, I was on the charter salary for a first professional contract, around 2,500 euros. When I go to Istres (on loan to the National, 2007-2008), I am at 7,000 per month. Not in francs no, I'm not that old. And then afterwards, in Tours, 10,000, 12,000 and 15,000 euros over three years”he explained.
