‘If he was available, I would have taken him there and then’: Montpellier president Laurent Niccolin on Andy Delort

French-born Algeria striker Andy Delort (32) is currently without a club after leaving Qatari outfit Umm Salal in January, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed by Montpellier Hérault SC President Laurent Niccolin.

After 47 goals in 106 games for La Paillade over the course of a one-year loan and a two-year permanent spell, Delort is still admired by the president, who has revealed in an interview with Midi Libre that there was a chance of getting him back in January that didn’t quite materialise: 

“He called me when he terminated his contract with the Qatari club. If he had terminated it within the legal deadline and had therefore been a free agent, I definitely would have signed him. As it is, there is a transfer that has to happen if we want him back. He left Qatar because of family problems that only he can talk about. He came to an agreement with the club,  but we still have to pay to get him.

A free agent and a player under contract is not the same thing. I’m waiting to learn the truth, we’ll meet soon to eat and discuss everything. As I’ve told him before, his biggest mistake was leaving, but we don’t need to revisit it. When he left in 2021, we lost someone who had the spirit of the club in him. Despite all his faults as a man and a player, he had three exceptional years with us. Andy is someone I love because he is endearing. Saying that, I’m probably going to get yelled at by wife. “

Leaving the captain’s armband behind upon his departure in the summer of 2021, Delort soured his relationship with the Montpellier fans, who see him as a traitor after joining southern rivals OGC Nice. Despite this, he has been linked with a return Nicollin’s club in each of the last three transfer windows. The saga looks set to continue