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Photo by Ricardo Nogueira/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Celtic exile Ntcham: "I can't say no to Marseille to stay in Scotland"
Former Celtic midfielder Olivier Ntcham might have just burned any bridge between himself and the club.
The Bhoys, who continue to employ Ntcham, loaned the Frenchman out to Marseille. The move was chaotic, with Andrés Villas-Boas immediately resigning, with a backdrop of fan protest. Now, though, in a move to endear himself to Marseille supporters, he has spoken up the lure of his new club.
Unfortunately, in doing so, he’s made comments that will leave a sour taste for Celtic supporters. In a press conference that was streamed on Twitch, Ntcham spoke about his hectic arrival in the South of France.
Celtic exile Ntcham said [RMC]:
“Whether the situation is good or bad, it is Marseille, that cannot be refused.
“It is like when Barça or Real call you, [you don’t] refuse. As a Frenchman, it’s Marseille. I can’t say no to Marseille to stay in Scotland, for example.”
Olivier Ntcham: not a fan of Scotland / (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Ex-Celtic man Ntcham comforts his new supporters
Feisty, alienating stuff from Ntcham, there. Of course, returning to his home country is always going to be a welcome prospect. However, his remark about Scotland is more than a tinge disrespectful. Not even the club of his employ; the whole country just isn’t as good as Marseille.
Maybe we’re being dramatic, but it’s a bit of a slap in the face.
Ntcham addressed the controversy surrounding his transfer. Specifically, he spoke about growing up in Paris and supporting the local team; a point that L’OM ultras weren’t keen about. He said:
“I am a competitor. I am from Paris so I have necessarily supported the club in my city. Today, if there is a Paris-Marseille [match], there is no supporter in the field.
“They are adversaries, it’s war, I don’t have time to talk with anyone despite being people with whom I grew up, and with whom I competed . We know each other and they know it’s my mentality. “
Former Celtic man Ntcham will be hoping to secure a permanent deal with Marseille. First, though, he has to win over supporters, and a new manager. No pressure, then.
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