Yoann Gourcuff Needs to Get the Hell Out of Milan

By: Laurie | December 16th, 2007

It’s the curse of being young and French and talented: You get the label “The Next Zidane.”

Some players have thrived with the label: Samir Nasri, the midfielder from Marseille, and Karim Benzema, the striker from Lyon, are lighting up the France National Team and permanent starters for their clubs. And Lyon winger Hatem Ben Arfa has had a slightly slower start, but he’s coming into his own this season.

And then we have players like that other Next Zidane, AC Milan’s Yoann Gourcuff. He moved from Rennes to Milan in 2006 and has been a perennial benchwarmer ever since. And he has yet to be called up for the full National Team despite some good performances with France youth squads.

I don’t think it’s coincidental that the other three I mentioned play in France. France is known for being a feeder country for leagues with richer clubs, partly because the tax structure in France puts French teams at a disadvantage when it comes to player salaries. So a lot of young French players head abroad, lured by bigger wages and dreams of playing for big teams, and end up not living up to their potential because they’re just not getting time on the field.

Like Gourcuff. He’s twenty-one now, so he’s not exactly a has-been. But he’s not making steady progress toward being the player he could be, either. That’s why I’ve been so pleased recently to see him linked to a possible move to Arsenal during the winter transfer window. If there’s anybody who knows how to nurture young French talent to help kids like Gourcuff reach their potential, it’s Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger. Players like Thierry Henry went from good to amazing under his tutelage, and players like Gael Clichy, Mathieu Flamini, Lassana Diarra and Abou Diaby seem set to follow.

Unfortunately, Gourcuff is denying the Arsenal rumors, saying he wants to stay in Milan.

I wish him luck. But I hope he recognizes that the time may come soon for him to get the hell out of ~~Dodge~~ Milan.

Some Related Stories:

Category: World Football

« Daily Dose 12.15.07 | Home | Arsenal Players Give Up a Day’s Wages for Charity. And the WAGs Weep. »

The Offside RSS Feeds

Magnusson

If it's a club for youngsters he needs, go to Amsterdam and do something. Like Inra said, Gourcuff needs to play, and maybe he's getting in his own way. He doesn't have his coache's confidence this year, he might as well move and swallow his ego. Staying there will make him an example of what not to do. Look at Silvestre Dabo and Zumana Camara, all bought from Rennes at Milan when they were way too young, the first one left after a year to go to ManU, the others stayed and stilldon't have a real career to speak of.
And no ofense INara, he can't come to Lyon, he's not good enough, he needs somewhere where they'll let him play plenty and leave him alone. NOt Marseille either nor paris. He needs Rennes or Lens or maybe even Monaco. I'd like to see him play with Menez
Michael

A move to Arsenal is a great decision for any young player.

I respect Arsene Wenger so much. What other top manager is so phenomenally good at developing young talent? I understand that the premier league and England have their drawbacks, but as far as developing and improving yourself goes, Arsenal is just a great club with a great staff.

I haven't been following them as much as I should. I really wonder how well Diarra's been doing, especially after his development was stalled under Mourinho.
Laurie

I thought that was the case but didn't want to put it in because I wasn't certain. Thanks.
Magnusson

What's more frightening for Gourcuff is that Rene Girard is not even calling him up for the U21 team anymore