|
|
Nicolas Anelka Interview
- The following is a translation of the controversial VSD interview in which
Anelka has been reported as saying he's preparing to leave Highbury.
- It was translated by NewsReel
author JFD, his notes are in italics.
- See also:
|
"I am honoured to be given the award, they were Premier League players who
voted for me! Moreover, obtaining it in a foreign country makes me a happier
man."
"I didn't attend the ceremony because I didn't want to do the english press
the honour of going. They wrote rubbish about how I wanted to get
back to France when I was only saying I was missing friends and family. They
took it as a personal insult when I said English and French people had
different ways of life. They just didn't give me time to prove my worth and
never took into account that I was only 17 when I arrived at Arsenal, not 25."
"And
I am French... I've never read such criticism of Owen or Shearer. So I decided not
to talk to them anymore. But believe me I really enjoyed being awarded the
Young Player of the Year trophy, I like England and I think I even prefer London to Paris."
When asked if he's staying at Arsenal he said,
"It's hard to reply now, we'll see when
the season is over as there are still 4 league games remaining" [this means the
interview can be dated around the end of april, which
contradicts what he said last week to l'Equipe, that VSD were simply
reproducing an old interview. See this newsreel item
for further details. Rather confusing...]
"Of course I would love to join Marseille, they are a big club. We've
been in touch for a long time. If I don't join them, I will either stay
at Arsenal or sign for another club. [Is there any other alternative?
Retiring?;-) ] It would be rather an Italian club although I prefer myself to
head for Spain but first choice is Marseille." Eh?
"I can' t figure out why Rolland Courbis [OM manager] says they can't afford
me, he is not the payer. I can't see why he said that." [From other sources
it sounds that Courbis is indeed not that keen to see NA9 coming to
Marseille
but rather the impetus comes from club president Robert Louis-Dreyfus. He is Adidas
president too and Nico wearing Adidas stuff would be a massive plus from a
commercial point of view. It was also reported he would pay Arsenal the
transfer fee from his own (Adidas?) pocket]
|
copyright belongs to original author where credited. otherwise © Rupert Ward, ArseWeb MMV
ArseWeb is NOT the official Arsenal site. The (excellent) official site is here
|