Former Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka reveals he snubbed offer from Paris Saint-Germain

The French striker says he was uninterested in playing in his homeland again, while stating that his experience with the Chinese club will be the last of his career

By Luis Mira

Nicolas Anelka - Shanghai Shenhua
Shanghai Shenhua
Former Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka has revealed that he spurned an offer from Paris Saint-Germain in November.

The 32-year-old forward left Chelsea for Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua in January after finding playing opportunities very limited under manager Andre Villas-Boas.

Anelka says he had no interest in returning to PSG, where he had played between 1996 and 1997 and then between 2000 and 2002, as he sought a new experience in his life.

"I was contacted by an intermediary of Qatar Investment Authority," he told Canal +. "I did not want to go to PSG because I had already played there.

"I know the French mentality. The people there would have worn me out. It did not interest me.

"Shanghai is Asia's New York. I love the way they live. I often come here on vacation. This is my last contract."


 
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England 1-0 Belgium, Netherlands 4-0 Northern Ireland - follow all the international action LIVE! ahead of Euro 2012
With countries across the continent gearing up for their final warm-up games ahead of Euro 2012, join us for all the action from Saturday's friendlies. Get in touch with us via Twitter with your reaction.

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20:14 BST
The general consensus, then, is that Danny Welbeck should be starting up front against France with Ashley Young supporting him. How about Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain? Did he do enough to earn a starting role at Euro 2012?
20:06 BST
So, that game gave a few players a chance to impress for England. Who did/didn't? Will Welbeck start against France? Or Carroll? Or Defoe?!

19:59 BST
Unfortunately for Northern Ireland, they are trailing the Netherlands 4-0 at half-time. Looks like that one's all sewn up then.
19:54 BST
We're still getting plenty of Hazard chat on Twitter. A few are now saying that he's not worth the hype, others saying he was brilliant(!?) and others (which I agree with), saying he created much of his own hype. What do you think? Get involved!
19:46 BST
Joe Hart has also been giving his thoughts after the Belgium game: "It was a really tough game, a good run out. I thought we played well, [but] we were a little bit bitty at times.

"But, we came through. Obviously there were a lot of changes so it's good to get the result.

"Belgium are a very, very strong side who are going to be really good in the future. Vincent [Kompany] told me about them and said that they were coming good and I totally agree with him."
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