Yoann Gourcuff:
Reports suggest Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea, Barcelona, Sevilla, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are targeting the mercurial talents of Bordeaux’s on-loan attacking midfielder Yoann Gourcuff. The French star has been in scintillating form this season in Lique One as his club side joint top alongside leaders Marseille with 4 games to go.
There was much debate as to whether the player would return to AC Milan this summer but Coach Carlo Ancelotti’s recent comments suggest Gourcuff has no future at the San Siro. Ancelotti told Tuttomercatoweb, “The return of Gourcuff in the Milan jersey will not be easy, even if it is not impossible.â€
“Bordeaux will probably exercise their right to purchase him. It’s a pity, because here he was unable to express himself well, but the problem was only psychological in nature.â€
The French club have unsurprisingly expressed an interest in keeping the player nicknamed the ‘New Zidane’. Club president Louis Triaud told Estadio Deportivo, “At the moment we have not talked about all this because we are focussed on claiming a Champions League place.â€
But importantly added, “But our desire is that Gourcuff stays.
“Is it is a lot of money for a French club to pay, yes, without doubt, but the owner of the club is a television chief and would have no problems meeting it.â€
It’s highly questionable whether Bordeaux could afford the midfield star or whether the player would want to stay with numerous top clubs interested in Gourcuff.
The 22-year-old began his career with FC Lorient where his father Christian is coach. However, he signed his first youth contract with Rennes in 2001 before earning a professional deal in 2003.
Gourcuff broke into the Rennes first team in the 2003/04 season making 9 League appearances (2 starts) without scoring. However, he was far more involved the following season as he made 21 League appearances for the club though only 6 starts.
The 2005/06 campaign was the season when Gourcuff really began to blossom and establish himself as the star player at Rennes as the club finished 7th and earned a place in the Intertoto Cup. The midfielder made 36 League appearances (28 starts) and scored 6 goals which caught the eye of some of the biggest clubs in Europe including Ajax, Valencia and Arsenal. However, AC Milan won the player’s signature.
In two seasons in Milan, Gourcuff made just 13 League starts (36 appearances) whilst scoring just twice in Serie A. He struggled to make the impact he was expected to with the galaxy of attacking stars in the Rossoneri’s squad. Thus the 22-year-old was sent on loan to Laurent Blanc’s Bordeaux this season where he has recaptured his best form.
The player’s father has voiced doubts as to whether his son will return to the San Siro at the end of the season. He told Gazetta Dello Sport, “Yoann belongs to Milan. He can stay in France - but only with Bordeaux if the team strengthens itself and qualifies for the Champions League.â€
“In football, everything is possible. The release clause in his contract (15 million euros) is ambiguous and there is also the possibility of a loan,†he said.
When asked what would need to happen for his son to return to Italy, his father said, “(Obtaining) the confidence of the person who sends him out onto the field. In Bordeaux, he has the confidence of the coach. That is the essential thing.
“At Milan he turned in some good showings but gave the impression of not having found his rhythm. In fact that’s because he did not have the confidence of Ancelotti, who counted on older players and limited (squad) turnover. You cannot not play a 21-year-old (now 22) - his career is at stake. We all agreed a loan out was necessary.â€
This season the French star has made 33 League appearances for Bordeaux (31 starts) and scored 10 goals. He has hit his best form in recent weeks including 4 goals in his last 3 games in all competitions. This hot streak included a goal in the recent 4-0 League Cup final win. The club is on course for its first title for 10 years to end Lyon’s 7-year title winning run with the reigning champions currently seven points off the pace.
Gourcuff was impressive in Bordeaux’s 1-1 Champions League home draw with Chelsea which reportedly caught the eye of the club’s hierarchy and a move for a player who could inject some width, pace and youth into an ageing Chelsea side would not be a surprise. However, Gourcuff would also be perfect for Liverpool who possess great strength and pace but perhaps lack creativity in their midfield, particularly on the right-hand side. Unlike Manchester United, Rafa Benitez doesn’t possess too many players who can beat a player with a bit of skill particularly in wide areas making Gourcuff a perfect addition to an already strong squad.
Spurs remain in the hunt for a left-sided player and Gourcuff has the ability to play on either flank or just behind the forwards so may well be suitable. At 6 ft 1 the young star also has the physical strength to compete in the Premier League as well as bundles of skill. Gourcuff has been capped 9 times by his country (1 goal) with all of those appearances coming in 2008 and 2009 as he has firmly established himself in the French national side.
Reports suggest Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea, Barcelona, Sevilla, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are targeting the mercurial talents of Bordeaux’s on-loan attacking midfielder Yoann Gourcuff. The French star has been in scintillating form this season in Lique One as his club side joint top alongside leaders Marseille with 4 games to go.
There was much debate as to whether the player would return to AC Milan this summer but Coach Carlo Ancelotti’s recent comments suggest Gourcuff has no future at the San Siro. Ancelotti told Tuttomercatoweb, “The return of Gourcuff in the Milan jersey will not be easy, even if it is not impossible.â€
“Bordeaux will probably exercise their right to purchase him. It’s a pity, because here he was unable to express himself well, but the problem was only psychological in nature.â€
The French club have unsurprisingly expressed an interest in keeping the player nicknamed the ‘New Zidane’. Club president Louis Triaud told Estadio Deportivo, “At the moment we have not talked about all this because we are focussed on claiming a Champions League place.â€
But importantly added, “But our desire is that Gourcuff stays.
“Is it is a lot of money for a French club to pay, yes, without doubt, but the owner of the club is a television chief and would have no problems meeting it.â€
It’s highly questionable whether Bordeaux could afford the midfield star or whether the player would want to stay with numerous top clubs interested in Gourcuff.
The 22-year-old began his career with FC Lorient where his father Christian is coach. However, he signed his first youth contract with Rennes in 2001 before earning a professional deal in 2003.
Gourcuff broke into the Rennes first team in the 2003/04 season making 9 League appearances (2 starts) without scoring. However, he was far more involved the following season as he made 21 League appearances for the club though only 6 starts.
The 2005/06 campaign was the season when Gourcuff really began to blossom and establish himself as the star player at Rennes as the club finished 7th and earned a place in the Intertoto Cup. The midfielder made 36 League appearances (28 starts) and scored 6 goals which caught the eye of some of the biggest clubs in Europe including Ajax, Valencia and Arsenal. However, AC Milan won the player’s signature.
In two seasons in Milan, Gourcuff made just 13 League starts (36 appearances) whilst scoring just twice in Serie A. He struggled to make the impact he was expected to with the galaxy of attacking stars in the Rossoneri’s squad. Thus the 22-year-old was sent on loan to Laurent Blanc’s Bordeaux this season where he has recaptured his best form.
The player’s father has voiced doubts as to whether his son will return to the San Siro at the end of the season. He told Gazetta Dello Sport, “Yoann belongs to Milan. He can stay in France - but only with Bordeaux if the team strengthens itself and qualifies for the Champions League.â€
“In football, everything is possible. The release clause in his contract (15 million euros) is ambiguous and there is also the possibility of a loan,†he said.
When asked what would need to happen for his son to return to Italy, his father said, “(Obtaining) the confidence of the person who sends him out onto the field. In Bordeaux, he has the confidence of the coach. That is the essential thing.
“At Milan he turned in some good showings but gave the impression of not having found his rhythm. In fact that’s because he did not have the confidence of Ancelotti, who counted on older players and limited (squad) turnover. You cannot not play a 21-year-old (now 22) - his career is at stake. We all agreed a loan out was necessary.â€
This season the French star has made 33 League appearances for Bordeaux (31 starts) and scored 10 goals. He has hit his best form in recent weeks including 4 goals in his last 3 games in all competitions. This hot streak included a goal in the recent 4-0 League Cup final win. The club is on course for its first title for 10 years to end Lyon’s 7-year title winning run with the reigning champions currently seven points off the pace.
Gourcuff was impressive in Bordeaux’s 1-1 Champions League home draw with Chelsea which reportedly caught the eye of the club’s hierarchy and a move for a player who could inject some width, pace and youth into an ageing Chelsea side would not be a surprise. However, Gourcuff would also be perfect for Liverpool who possess great strength and pace but perhaps lack creativity in their midfield, particularly on the right-hand side. Unlike Manchester United, Rafa Benitez doesn’t possess too many players who can beat a player with a bit of skill particularly in wide areas making Gourcuff a perfect addition to an already strong squad.
Spurs remain in the hunt for a left-sided player and Gourcuff has the ability to play on either flank or just behind the forwards so may well be suitable. At 6 ft 1 the young star also has the physical strength to compete in the Premier League as well as bundles of skill. Gourcuff has been capped 9 times by his country (1 goal) with all of those appearances coming in 2008 and 2009 as he has firmly established himself in the French national side.
