Veteran striker Olivier Giroud defined his underwhelming spell at LAFC by saying that the type of play in MLS “did not essentially swimsuit me.”
The 38-year-old’s contract with LAFC was set to run out on the finish of this 12 months, however the membership and Giroud mutually agreed to half methods so he may go away on a free switch and be a part of Lille, which completed fifth in Ligue 1 final season.
Giroud is France’s all-time main males’s scorer with 57 objectives and gained the 2018 World Cup with Les Bleus. Though he was standard with followers at LAFC, he managed simply 5 objectives in 38 matches for the staff.
“The type of play within the MLS did not essentially swimsuit me,” he mentioned as he was offered to the media at Lille on Wednesday. “Coming again to France 13 years later is a chance and an unbelievable problem for me.”
Giroud left the French league in 2012 after serving to unheralded Montpellier beat Paris Saint-Germain to win the Ligue 1 title, scoring 21 objectives within the competitors that season, earlier than becoming a member of English Premier League staff Arsenal, the place he gained three FA Cup trophies.
He then performed for Chelsea and AC Milan, making a superb impression along with his knack for scoring essential objectives, his hold-up play and his unselfishness — all hallmarks of his recreation.
With Chelsea, Giroud gained the Europa League in 2019 and the Champions League in 2021 in addition to the FA Cup, and he was additionally one of many key gamers when AC Milan gained the Serie A title in 2022.
He insisted that his getting old physique can face up to the pains of the French league and that he has a lot to supply new membership Lille.
“I really feel in good condition bodily, don’t be concerned,” Giroud mentioned. “I am able to take up the problem. I really feel good for my age and I need to play till my physique says cease.”
Lille impressed at occasions within the Champions League final season, beating Actual Madrid, however will play within the second-tier Europa League this season.
“I would like challenges, to problem myself, that is what has pushed my profession ahead,” Giroud mentioned. “This problem speaks to me.”
Lille opens its Ligue 1 marketing campaign at Brest in mid-August.
Data from The Related Press was used on this report.