Bordeaux attack Wenger over Chamakh
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Your support makes all the difference.Bordeaux president Jean-Louis Triaud has lashed out at Arsene Wenger, lambasting the Arsenal coach's pursuit of Marouane Chamakh.
The Morocco striker was strongly linked with a move to Arsenal over the summer.
The Gunners had a bid turned down for Chamakh and Wenger has already hinted he might make another offer in the winter transfer window.
However, despite Chamakh being out of contract next summer, Triaud insists he would be wasting his time.
"What I do not like in the behaviour of Arsene Wenger, who is doing this again today, is that at the beginning, he declared his interest in Chamakh, a long time before calling me," he told Gold FM. "Then he ended up doing so.
"And now, Mr Wenger is starting again, again starting to put doubt in the mind of the player. And I don't find that very correct. That said, in January, Marouane will not leave. Even less so on a free transfer."
West Ham and Sunderland were also interested in Chamakh but Bordeaux always claimed they would only allow the 25-year-old to move to a club they believed were better than them.
Arsenal fit the bill but Triaud believes Wenger was never as interested in Chamakh as he made out.
The Bordeaux chief added: "I said I wanted around €18million for the transfer because in a negotiation, I know very well that there is always a counter offer.
"He said that was a lot, and called me 48 hours later, as agreed. He offered seven. I replied that was too low and he suggested calling me back a little later to find a compromise, but in the end he never called back.
"In fact, I think Wenger made me an offer low enough so that I would refuse it, knowing that he had also made one to the player and that moreover he was waiting to see what would happen in his squad.
"Seeing Eduardo make a fantastic start to the season, Wenger suddenly realised he no longer needed Chamakh. So there was no more news from London."
Triaud added: "At that point Chamakh asked me to block everything for Arsenal and I told him no, and called Wenger to know (what was happening).
"He told me he didn't want him anymore, stating that he is a great player, that he respects him, but if he takes him and he does not play, it would not be right for the player or for the club.
"He said that, regardless of the price of the transfer, he was not interested. Thank you and goodbye!
"That's how it happened, something I explained to Chamakh, so he has no bitterness towards the club."
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