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Grimandi joins Rapids Ex-Gunner set to become MLS' first FrenchmanPosted: Tuesday January 07, 2003 8:20 AMUpdated: Tuesday January 07, 2003 11:39 AM
PARIS (Reuters) -- Former Arsenal midfielder Gilles Grimandi is about to become the first Frenchman to play in the U.S. Major League Soccer after signing for the Colorado Rapids. "Since I left Arsenal in May, I have received a number of offers from France, but all the players who have had a great experience abroad will tell you it's not easy to return to France," he told sports daily l'Equipe. Grimandi, 31, said he would join his new teammates in mid-January. The American season starts in April. The Frenchman, who started his career under coach Arsene Wenger at Monaco, joined the Gunners in 1997. He said he was a little disappointed not to have been approached by any big European club. "Soccer is going through hard times. All the clubs have too many players," he said. Grimandi said he had a chance to return to the English Premier League last week when Middlesbrough called him with a last-minute bid. "I was very flattered to get the call from Middlesbrough and they said lots of nice things about me," he said.
"But Colorado were pressing me for a decision at the same
time and I had to make my mind up quickly."
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. |
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