Bordeaux’s president Jean-Louis Triaud is not very happy. Triaud brings up Sylvain Wiltord and now Maroaune Chamakh, who is set all set for an Arsenal departure as evidence of the club’s dirty tricks.
In Chamakh’s case, there seems to be a black hole as to who approached the Bordeaux striker. He states that Wenger never approached him, so Triaud is a bit bewildered as to Arsenal going ahead signing Chamakh without the coach’s knowledge.
“He said he had never spoken to Arsene Wenger. But I find it strange that he could be recruited by Arsenal without talking to the coach.”
He said that they had done everything to try and keep him at Bordeaux including proposing extensions as far back as early 2009. But he blamed Chamakh’s advisors:
“I think he was surrounded and badly misguided. I did not appreciate at all how it went. As president, I resent it. Personally, I owe him all my affection. He is a lovely boy.”
I don’t really see what the problem is. Chamakh had always indicated his interest in playing for Arsenal and there was an anointment in waiting quality to the saga. Wenger delayed bringing him because Bordeaux’s asking price was too much at that time and by biding his time, Chamakh would be available as a free transfer pick up. Smart business tactics nothing more.
Maybe if Bordeaux had won the Championnat and turned in a winning performance against Lyon in the Champions League, Triaud would have been a far more content man. He also stands to lose Laurent Blanc, the force behind Bordeaux’s turnaround. The coach departs after the World Cup to takeover Les Bleus. The future of Les Girondins looks unsettled. Obviously, the loss of Chamakh comes at this moment of angst.