Fred set for French stay
10 Jan 2008 - 07:35:26
Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has confirmed that Brazilian striker Fred is set to leave the club, but says he would like to see the player remain in France.
Manchester City and Middlesbrough had both been credited with an interest in the 24-year-old frontman, who wants to quit Lyon after falling out of favour this season.
Aulas told his club's official website: "If he wants to leave he can do so. We have had enquiries about him, of which one is from PSG.
"We'll take the time to discuss things with him. It's in his interest to find a club which will play him more and value him.
"There will be no difficulty, he will be wanted by many clubs. A young Brazil international is a rarity in the market.
"In the interests of French football we have to have a big club in Paris. We need PSG to develop and for that they need a certain number of big players.
"As vice-president of the Ligue de Football Professionnel and for the value of television rights, I would prefer Fred to stay in France.
"That's the reason we're ready to do what we can to help him secure a move to PSG. However, there is no possibility of us loaning him out."