Florian Thauvin blames Lille for ‘bad guy’ image in Marseille transfer

In an interview with Le Media Carre , Florian Thauvin (31) blamed Lille OSC for making him look like the “ bad guy ” in his departure to Olympique de Marseille in 2013. 

Thauvin had only joined Lille that year after he was picked up by the club in January for €3.5 million from SC Bastia. As part of the deal for the future World Cup winner, Lille immediately loaned him back to Bastia, and Thauvin carried on his impressive form collecting the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year award for the 2012/13 season. 

In the summer, despite not yet playing for Lille, the club looked to make a huge profit from Marseille’s interest in the winger, as he explains, “ Frédéric Paquet (the ex-Lille Sporting Director) summoned me and tells me ‘for €8 million we’ll let you go.’ ”

Thauvin continues, “ I tell Marseille and they offer €8 million but Lille refuse. Paquet comes to me and says for €10 million it’ll happen. Marseille offer €10 million and Lille refuse again. For €12 million they’ll let me go. Marseille offer this amount and Lille still rejects the offer. ”

Florian Thauvin raconte son transfert à l'OM en 2013… Alors qu'il devait porter les couleurs du LOSC…