The agent of Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud has denied speculation that Marseille have made an offer to sign the 31 year old.
Speaking to French football website Footmercato, Michael Manuello emphatically dismissed talk that the forward could return to France to play in Ligue One:
“Olivier will not come back to France. Unless there is a change in his state of mind, to date the intention is not to return to France. There has been no new approach from Marseille. I have no information that Marseille was trying to contact us.”
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has stated his intention to keep Giroud in the January transfer window, but it looks as though this feeling is not shared by the player going by his agent’s comments. Manuello said there would be no confrontation with Wenger or any demand to leave the Emirates Stadium, but they want to have talks with the Arsenal manager if an offer does come in to leave next month:
“It can make things complicated, but a clash, that kind of thing is not in Olivier’s nature, nor in mine. Now, depending on the offers, we will sit around a table and talk. The most important thing is to know what will be offered or not this winter, to find a better project.”
Giroud revealed in an interview with L’Equipe last week that he would consider a loan move in January. The Frenchman is concerned about losing his place in France’s World Cup squad, and needs regular first team football to cement his place in the final 23 that will be heading to Russia in the summer.
