Robert 'wants return to France'

[russe||]

Newcastle winger Laurent Robert reportedly wants to leave the club after claiming he does not have the confidence of new boss Graeme Souness.
And Robert, 29. says he is keen to return to former club Paris St Germain.

He told the Sun newspaper: "I am often a sub. (Former manager) Bobby Robson placed his confidence in me. That's no longer the case under the new manager.

"It would interest me to play for PSG and I have heard talk of interest from Valencia, that would be equally good."

Robert almost made the move from St James' Park to French club Marseille last summer but the Frenchman admitted "talks broke down on a salary level".

But it seems that PSG may be willing to meet Robert's demands.

Robert said: "Everything is possible if Paris meet my salary. Especially as it is the club where I made my breakthrough.

"I had Francis Graille (PSG chairman) on the phone the other day, he is someone I appreciate."

[Mat]

He may as well leave as souness doesnt play him. I would like to see him stay but if he isnt playing we may as well get the money for him.

[nathanjr]

he's always wanted to leave hasn't he? theres always stories about him.

[Reevesport]

Quote attributed to Souness:

'I've spoken to Laurent this morning about them, and he said he phoned up their president and asked for a ticket for a game of football last week for a member of his family,' the manager reported.

'He can't understand how that story appeared in the paper this morning. I believe the player.'

[CJ Revo]

I'm suprised he wants to leave. He's probably one of Newcastle's best players.

[robaldo]

Gallas should have hit him last night for what he did to Paulo Ferreria

[wildsexylady]

Souness denied it but I do hope he goes, he has a bad attitude and we can do better.

[The Rule]

Originally posted by robaldo
Gallas should have hit him last night for what he did to Paulo Ferreria

It was a nasty fall that Ferreira had, but it's about time some1 pushed a defender(any defender) who obstructs them while ushering the ball out of play.

[JD]

I'll kick my m8s up in the air if they try and 'shepherd' balls out
if Gallas had hit him, he'd just be suspended now
wouldn't really help
Laurent come back2 Montpellier!!

[wildsexylady]

Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd has ordered French winger Laurent Robert to honour his contract and challenged Paris St Germain to come clean over their interest in the player.

The Magpies have grown weary with repeated suggestions that the £10.5million winger could be heading back to his former club, the latest coming this week.

Robert, not for the first time, denied making comments attributed to him when confronted by manager Graeme Souness yesterday, and now Shepherd had waded into the row by issuing the French club with an ultimatum.

'I have told Paris St Germain to put up or shut up,' he said. 'And after speaking to them, I can tell Laurent Robert that they are saying they are not interested in taking him back to Paris.

'First they tell me they could not afford his transfer fee and neither could they pay him the wages he has been picking up at St James' Park.

'He has 20 months left on his contract and he should honour it. After all, we are honouring our contract with him.'

Robert has started just seven of the 13 games Newcastle have played under new manager Graeme Souness with the Scot having told him he will have to work harder on his defensive duties if he is to be a regular.

The Frenchman appears to have taken his instructions on board, although he will have too wait to see whether or not his response so far is enough to win him a place in the starting line-up for Sunday's vital Barclays Premiership clash with Manchester United at St James' Park.

[JD]

shepherd is a plonker

[Mat]

Very polite way of putting it.