Kobra

BOBO'S DONE A RUNNER

Aug 8 2005

Balde jets out to join Marseille but doesn't tell Celts

By Keith Jackson

BOBO BALDE'S Celtic career appears to be over after the defender jetted to France last night for signing talks with Marseille.

The Guinea international flew into the Cote d'Azur without informing the Parkhead club that he is close to reaching an agreement at the Velodrome.

But Record Sport understands a deal is imminent as Balde cashes in on a get-out clause in his contract which allows him to move on for free before the transfer window slams shut at the end of this month.

Manager Gordon Strachan will not be unduly perturbed by Balde's duplicity and was informed last night of the defender's intention to return to France - even though he'll earn only half his Celtic pay.

Balde's form has been poor in the last 12 months and Strachan even axed him for the opening day 4-4 draw at Motherwell after his calamitous performance in the shock5-0 capitulation against Artmedia Bratislava which cost the club a £10million ticket into the Champions League.

If the transfer goes through - with sources in France expecting a deal to be announced on Wednesday - it will free up a wage of around £30,000 a week which should allow Strachan to bring in a replacement in the next couple of weeks.

Marseille's sporting director Jose Anigo said: 'The Balde deal should be done. I have seldom seen somebody who has shown such a desire to sign for us.

'I think it's wonderful he should agree to join us on half the money Celtic paid him.'

The defender turned down a move to Middlesbrough in January and signed a new contract at Celtic Park.

But it left Balde with the opt-out clause and the Ligue 1 side now look set to take advantage.

Anigo added: 'He knows the club and he's ready to leave the stability of a good contract in Glasgow to come to Marseille. He has a strong personality and all of the essential qualities of a good defender

Thank fuck, I hated him with a passion!

H2H...I cn't wait for it!!!

That extract was awesome, Gonna get the book now!

Lovenkrands tried his heart out! He really is fighting for his contract. That is seriously the most the guy has ran with and for the ball in the past 18 months...Plus his last minute goal won me £75!

Look at what he's up against.

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I'm not disputing that. I've gone on record many times on here saying that even I could score atleast 20 goals in that league a season.

Shut up you thick cunt! If your'e gonna talk shite fuck off or i'll fuck you off.

Don't worry I moved it there. xxx

Could be a job for computing or graphics but for the next 30 days...you can live in Graphics!

More and better AIDs.... >_>

Doc done the banner? What did you do?

It's rated? It's terrible!

What the fuck did I just witness? Who else here has seen this?

Not only did we win the leauge...We broke their fucking hearts. Follow Follow!

I thought Kenny was dead... >_>

Bravo, the pair of you.

Giggling Stoners or Drum Circle hippies?

Surely... not College Know-It-Alls?

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Kobra is unifing all the evil, he is sitting stoned and giggeling in his one person drumcircel telling everyone that walks by how the smurfs caus global warming. Level 60 Elit Hippi Boss - MUST BAN NOW !

Fucking nazi.

I got my PS2 when it first came out, Still works, Sony rawk.

BB just got awesome, I hope Victor slaps the shit out of Emma and Michelle's mouths.

Every non-English fan hates England. (This, I dont quite understand.)

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I enjoy watching England, I can't stand the England fan's "holier than thou" attitude though, which has been shown MANY times in this thread alone.

We are still going to win the competition, we will beat the French in the final like we should have done yesterday and thats the main thing.

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Sit down Des

Sven should of brought on Butt instead of Heskey in my opinion.  Heskey isn't bad, but common sense would tell you not to bring on more strikers when your trying to defend a lead against the best team in the world.

Zidane's freekick was unstoppable, as was the penalty, James can't be blamed for either.  The people who can be blamed, are Heskey and Gerrard, and I intend on doing that, along with Beckham for a piss poor penalty.

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Get a fucking grip. It was a great penalty, shame it was an outstanding save. What pissed me off most about the match was the commentary at the final whistle.

"Oh well, I guess we will just have to beat them in the final."

Wanker.

AJ

Michelle! :drool:

I think London was the obvious answer though.