Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud was planed to leave Stamford Bridge in January. However, the Blues manager Frank Lampard insisted that the club still needs the Frenchman in future.
According to Giroud, he was unhappy at his lack of game time under Lampard in a year when he is bidding to win a place in French national team for Euro 2020.
“To be honest, I saw myself playing elsewhere. I had six tough months, which is why I wanted a change of scene to get back to playing and enjoying myself on the pitch, so I tried to leave in January.” Giroud said.
“I did everything I could, but Chelsea didn’t want to let me leave because the condition in place was that they had to bring in a replacement. On 31 January, I still hoped that I would leave. I was very disappointed, but I’d say that by the following morning, I’d put that behind me.” Giroud said.
Inter Milan have been linked with a number of players, and a move to Serie A would have seen Giroud be reunited with his former manager Antonio Conte.
“Everyone knows the most interesting sporting project for me was at Inter Milan. The problem was that it dragged on and although Lazio and Tottenham were both interested, in the end it was no longer a question of where I would go, rather if I could leave or not” Giroud said.
“As for Inter, I’d spoken to Antonio Conte on the phone and he knew me from his time at Chelsea, having been the coach that brought me here. He liked my profile as a player, so that was an advantage, plus Inter were going to be in the Champions League next year and it’s a huge club.
“I went to see Frank Lampard in his office on the three or four final days of the transfer window every morning to try to find a solution. He gave me my chance, and I took it. In the end, Lampard needed me.” he added.
