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'Love and respect' Anelka says return to PSG will boost his career
PARIS (AP) -- Wayward French striker Nicolas Anelka said in an interview published Saturday that he is very happy to be returning to French club Paris-Saint Germain and to people who like him. The 21-year-old player, who is being transferred from Spain's Real Madrid, told the French daily newspaper Le Parisien that the move will boost his career. Anelka's short stay at Real Madrid was dogged by poor performances and arguments with management and players. On Friday, the Spanish club said it had agreed to transfer him to Paris-Saint Germain for 5.5 billion pesetas (US$30.5 million) -- the highest price paid by a French club for a player. "In Spain, I was playing with 80,000 people whistling at me and insulting me," Anelka was quoted as saying in Le Parisen. "In Paris, I will be playing in front of 50,000 people who love me and respect me." "I want to be at my best for the World Cup in 2002. I am not coming to Paris to take a break but to give my career a boost," he told the paper. Paris Saint-Germain was Anelka's first professional club. He left in 1997 to play for English club Arsenal. Real paid 5.5 billion pesetas -- US$35 million at last summer's exchange rate -- to buy Anelka from Arsenal last year, but the partnership never worked out. He scored just four goals for the Spanish club. At one point he was suspended for 45 days for refusing to train, a tantrum sparked by what he said was a team playing style that failed to capitalize on his talent. "In Madrid, everything was done to make me mess up. But the past doesn't interest me. I know my level. If I am confident, nothing can stop me," he told Le Parisien.
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