Former Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho LEAVES Montpellier after being suspended by the club following an altercation with his manager, which ‘saw him grab Michel Der Zakarian and knock him to the floor’
- Sakho was reportedly called a ‘cry baby’ which seemingly caused the altercation
- He maintained that he refuses to take blame for the event in his departure post
- Big debates on Man United, Chelsea and Arsenal on It’s All Kicking Off podcast
Former Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho have left Montpellier with immediate effect after a reported physical altercation with manager Michel Der Zakarian.
According to L’Equipe, Sakho grabbed Der Zakarian by the collar and knocked him to the ground in front of several witnesses during a training ground bust-up.
The confrontation was said to have been sparked when Sakho was not given a foul by Der Zakarian during training and the Armenian called him a ‘cry baby’, and Sakho proceeded to leave the training pitch after layers and staff members quickly stepped in to prevent the situation escalating further.
Sakho was banned by the club following the incident and risked facing the sack, but he has not left the club – seemingly off his own accord – for good.
The 33-year-old released a statement on Thursday, roughly translated by Fabrizio Romano, explaining his exit, but maintained his innocence in the altercation, refusing to accept any portion of the blame.
Mamadou Sakho has left Montpellier after an altercation with the club’s manager on the training ground
The defender confirmed his departure on social media on Thursday and maintained his innocence regarding the altercation
Michel Der Zakarian (pictured) reportedly called Sakho a ‘cry baby’ before being grabbed by the collar and knocked to the floor
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‘You have to know how to leave the table when respect is no longer served,’ the statement began.
‘Following the incident that took place last week at the training centre and for which I decline all responsibility, I have decided, on this day of 11/2/2023, to ending my collaboration with Montpellier Herault Sports Club.
‘I spent two years in this family club where I took pleasure to share my high-level experience with my team-mates and my ‘little brothers’ from the centre of training. At the same time, I think them for their support flawless as well as the medical stuff without forgetting the supporters who appreciated my time at the club.
‘Thanks also to the sports director Bruno Carotti for his loyalty to me throughout my adventure [at] Montpellier.
‘Finally, I wanted to give a special thanks to the president, Laurent Nicollin, who, like his late father did before him, heads the MHSC with the values and principles that are dear to me.
‘We met as men, let’s leave as men. Happy end of the season, Mamadou Sakho.’
Sakho spent eight years playing in the Premier League, including three-and-a-half years with Jurgen Klopp (left) and Liverpool
The rest of the time was spent with Crystal Palace before he left England to join Montpellier
Sakho joined Montpellier in 2021 from Crystal Palace after eight years playing in the Premier League – three-and-a-half with Liverpool and four-and-a-half with Palace.
He made 155 appearances combined for the two clubs before moving back to his homeland in France, making 45 appearances for the Ligue 1 side in just over two years.
Michel Der Zakarian returned for a second stint as Montpellier manager in February this year, and allegedly branded Sakho a ‘cry baby’ before tensions rose.
Sakho was told in the summer that he was no longer part of Der Zakarian’s plans, but was unable to get a transfer elsewhere.
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