Kasper Schmeichel ‘got the wrong end of the stick’ when he swapped Leicester City for Nice in the summer.
That’s according to former Danish footballer Peter Graulund, who believes the goalkeeper expected an easy life in France.
Schmeichel brought an end to an 11-year spell with Leicester, where he had won the Premier League and the FA Cup and made 479 appearances in all competitions, in the summer with a surprise move to Nice.
The 35-year-old’s switch to the Ligue 1 side came as a shock to many, with it widely believed he would have finished his career at Leicester given his strong association with them.
It’s a move that hasn’t paid off for him so far, with the veteran goalkeeper enduring a miserable start to life with Nice.
He’s made 11 appearances in all competitions this season but managed just two clean sheets and conceded 11 goals, with criticism plentiful as a result.
Several reports in France have made it clear that the transfer has been something of a disaster, with it even reported they may look to get rid next summer.
“I think it’s brutal. But this is a kid who grew up in English football and has been around over there,” he told TV2 programme Kant, relayed by Tipsbladet.
“It’s a different culture. I think maybe he’s been surprised by coming to French football and finding out what it is.
“This thing of leaving a bit late in your career and having an adventure. I mean, it’s not just that you’ve got a rucksack on and you’re going out to see the beautiful beaches and have a lot of experiences. It’s still professional football.
“Football matches have to be won all the time. The pressure is on, and he may have got the wrong end of the stick, that he may have thought that things would go a bit easier.”
