Speaking at his official unveiling press conference for LOSC Lille, the 38-year-old veteran striker Olivier Giroud confirmed he is no longer considering a call-up for the French national team, Les Bleus. Despite his recent move to Northern France potentially bringing France`s all-time leading scorer back into the spotlight ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup, Giroud stated he is not contemplating a return to Didier Deschamps` squad.
During the press conference, which was transcribed by RMC Sport, Giroud was explicit about his international future:
“I’m not thinking about the French National team anymore. I’ve turned the page, time to make way for the youth!”
Giroud recently completed a free transfer to Lille from Los Angeles FC, signing a one-year contract with Les Dogues after playing his final match for the MLS side on Sunday evening. This move marks his return to France`s top domestic league, Ligue 1, where he last played in 2012 before departing Montpellier HSC for Arsenal. In his final Ligue 1 season, Giroud was a key player in leading Montpellier to their unexpected first league title, scoring 21 goals.
