Ludovic Giuly went through all the emotions in the spring of 2006. Because if he played a decisive role in Barça’s historic season, concluded with a Spanish championship title and a coronation in the Champions League against Arsenal, the former Monegasque was not called up by Raymond Domenech for the 2006 World Cup, the French coach preferring Franck Ribéry then Sydney Govou when Djibril Cissé was forced fixed price.
This absence still constitutes for Ludovic Giuly one of his biggest career regrets, just like his injury in the Champions League final with Monaco in 2004. And the native of Lyon has it all the worse because in his opinion, this decision by Raymond Domenech was not motivated by sporting considerations, but by an SMS sent to Estelle Denis, then companion of the French coach.
“ I did an interview with Estelle and I didn’t know that she was the coach’s wife and then she told me if you’re in Paris one day, we’ll go for a coffee, I told her ‘ok with pleasure’, nothing more…” he explained when discussing this sequence four years ago.
“Without wanting to sound like a cad, I didn’t like Estelle Denis”
“Then Domenech calls me to tell me that I will play with the Blues, that he trusts me. But I went to see him to tell him that I had written a text message to Estelle not knowing that she was his wife and I swear to you, there was nothing between her and me, he continued. He doesn’t say yes I know there’s no problem. So I did the preparation for the matches before the World Cup and at the last moment on the list, I wasn’t there so either he put it wrong for me or he can’t fool me…”
Ludovic Giuly mentioned this episode in 2007 in his autobiography Giuly by Giuly. The attacking midfielder returned to his exchange with the coach. “Look, coach, I texted your wife, I didn’t even know you were in a relationship. But don’t worry, it was just professional. I prefer to tell you, so that there are no misunderstandings”he told her. The Barça player had not been kind to… Estelle Denis. “ Without wanting to sound like a cad, I didn’t like Estelle Denis. We never had a relationship, or wanted to have one. Maybe I’ll know more one day », he had whispered.
