His presence at Stade Saputo on Saturday, as well as his meeting with some former teammates on Monday, have fueled some rumors of a return to Montreal. But Saphir Taïder assures that his visit to his former team was indeed only “friendly”.
Posted at 3:16 p.m.
“I really came because I have friends here,” he explains when reached on the phone by The Press. It has nothing to do with football and the club. I also passed and I saw a bit of everyone. It made us happy. But no, nothing to do with football. »
So the former Impact Designated Player didn’t have any discussions with sporting director Olivier Renard on this subject?
“No, there was no discussion regarding the athlete. »
That is clear.
Saphir Taïder has not had a club since last summer, when he terminated his agreement with Al-Aïn, a Saudi Arabian team, for non-payment. The Press had expressed in January his interest in returning to Montreal.
If he said at the time that he “would favor” an offer to settle again in the metropolis, his family takes precedence today over everything.
“I had opportunities in January that I didn’t like,” he says. I have a family. I can’t go anywhere or move just anyhow. »
“I really want to choose a city where I could feel good. I am in talks with some clubs. We’ll see in a few days or a few weeks. »
Taïder resides in France. We understand that his objective is to stay in Europe.
“Football is important, but here it is, I want to be in a city that allows me to flourish on and off the pitch. »