Not particularly wanting to play football in the Championship, Jordan Veretout was in demand over the summer, primarily from French clubs who knew what they would be getting from his time at Nantes.
Marseille were reportedly very keen, but the Aston Villa midfielder decided to opt for a loan to Saint-Etienne instead.
Ahead of a return to Stade de La Beaujoire, Nantes’ home ground, on Wednesday, the player was interviewed by But! in France, and asked why he chose his current club out of his many options.
He said: “It was the most ambitious. There was the Europa League, as well as the stable environment of a team that fights for the top five for a while now. I also spoke to the manager, Christophe Galtier, before coming, and what he said appealed to me.
“I joined because I feel he can help me progress. On top of that, the club plays in a big stadium, with a strong fanbase, which I witnessed during my time at Nantes.”
Not particularly looking forward to playing for the first time in front of his former adulating fans in a different shirt, the player hopes they will understand his decision to leave rather than turn on him from kick-off.
We’ll let you know how it goes.
Since joining Saint-Etienne, the 23-year-old has made four appearances in all competitions, including a start against Paris Saint-Germain, but is yet to pick either a goal or an assist.
