Few expected Olivier Giroud (39) to return to Europe this summer. The Frenchman left in the summer of 2024 following the expiry of his deal at AC Milan in order to wind down his career at LAFC.However...
Few expected Olivier Giroud (39) to return to Europe this summer. The Frenchman left in the summer of 2024 following the expiry of his deal at AC Milan in order to wind down his career at LAFC.
However, one year later, the former Arsenal and Chelsea forward was back in Europe and back in France, 13 years after last playing in Ligue 1, with Montpellier HSC. Speaking to L’Équipe, Giroud has revealed that, over the years, he has had multiple opportunities to return to his native France.
France’s all-time top scorer revealed that Olivier Létang, now president at Lille OSC, tried to sign him when he was at Stade Rennais. “But when I left Chelsea, there was AC Milan who were asking. It wasn’t an option to return to France,” said Giroud. Létang was with Les Rennais between 2017 and 2020.
In addition, the striker revealed that “a few seasons” ago, there were also possibilities to sign for Olympique de Marseille and Olympique Lyonnais. However, after a 13-year absence, Giroud did return to Ligue 1, signing a one-year deal with Lille, despite interest from FC Lorient, where close friend Laurent Koscielny is now a sporting director.
GFFN | Luke Entwistle
Category: General Sports
