After a tumultuous summer of 2009, when Marouane was targeted by Arsenal to play in the English Premier League, it had finally come to this...he will not be playing for Bordeaux next season.
His contract is up in June and Bordeaux chose to drag their feet last summer and not offer a contract extension, which signalled to Marouane (or should have) that they would accept an offer from another club. Arsene Wenger of Arsenal made that offer. And inexplicably Jean-Louis Triaud did not accept the offer. Marouane was angry and lashed out at the French club (and rightly so) for cutting his legs out from under him after he had given his entire professional career to them.
It's understandable that Bordeaux would not want Marouane to leave. Not only is he their main goal-scorer, but he is also a favorite with the Girondins faithful.
Triaud's reluctance to offer Marouane an extension last summer will not only hit the Girondins in the heart but in the wallet as well. Because his contract is up in June he will go on a Bosman's free transfer to Arsenal...FREE. Which means that Bordeaux will get zero euros for a player that Arsenal had offered 8 million GBP for the previous summer. Now the Bordelaise will have to replace him with no transfer fee money to offset that cost. It was bad business for Bordeaux, which they have now admitted.
Leaving Bordeaux, the only team he's ever known, was not an easy decision for Marouane, despite his treatment from last summer. He said in a recent interview that he almost accepted the new contract that Bordeaux offered; a pay package that would nearly rival Arsenal's. But in the end, the draw to play in the World's best league, and his latent bitterness from the previous summer turned his head toward London.
There is one difference he will now have to accept...because he is a footballer his wages will be taxed at a 50% rate by the British Crown. Ouch.
Marouane's last season for Bordeaux has been a rollercoaster ride. The Marine et Blanc were riding high under manager Laurent Blanc (former United center-back) through February, knocking off Ligue 1 and Champions League opponents with ease. Then the schedule began to back up with weather cancellations, CL matches, and French cup games. The exhausted Bordelaise struggled to keep up with the frenetic schedule and lost 6 of 8 league matches in a row. Up by 10 points in February and cruising to their second-straight Ligue 1 title, Bordeaux will most likely finish in 5th or 6th place, with Marseilles already securing the title for this season. It was a monumental slide from the top to their current position, but Marouane has played valiantly throughout. At times he has suffered from lack of service in the midfield, and ended up playing as a midfielder/striker in some matches...yes, providing his own service.
Yoann Gourcuff, Marouane's kindred spirit on the team has had a spotty season. Hampered with injuries, the midfielder has not featured in every match. But when these two got together it was a joy to watch and I nicknamed them "Chamcuff." Gourcuff said in an interview last month that he and Marouane had an innate sense of each other on the pitch, and that was obvious to see by their results.
I decided to create this blog, although I've written about Marouane and Bordeaux on my other. It just didn't seem right to talk about him on my United blog when he will now be featuring for Arsenal! :)
But I am still a huge Marouane fan and will support his endeavours, except when the Gunners play United.
It is a new adventure for Marouane...and for me.
Allez Marouane et bienvenue a Inglaterre!
"Marouane, always in our heart"
Subbing off for the last time at the Chaban-Delmas to a roar of appreciation from the crowd
His team-mates showing their appreciation for his efforts over the last 9 years
Saluting the fans who have supported him throughout his career
No comments:
Post a Comment