Former France international Sylvain Wiltord, 37, said Wednesday that he still feels he has something to offer after ending his exile from the game by joining Nantes on a one-season deal.
Wiltord, who scored in France's Euro 2000 final victory against Italy, had been without a club for a year before eight-times French champions Nantes, now in the second division, offered him a trial earlier this month.
That trial was turned into a one-year contract on Tuesday, and Wiltord insists that he can have an impact.
"I have had a year away from the game, but in that time I have seen a lot of games, and watching from the stands, I would tell myself that I could still do this," he said.
"It has been a long year, and I am happy to find a club.
"I spent the whole year looking for something but nobody wanted me because I was supposedly 'too old'."
Wiltord, who has played for Bordeaux, Arsenal and Lyon amongst others during his career, also says he hopes to pass down some of his experience to Nantes' younger players.
"There are a lot of youngsters here, many of them in their first year as professionals," he continued.
"I'd like them to watch and learn from me in training.
"I don't think I could be the captain on the pitch because that would mean playing all 38 games, which may prove beyond me, but there is certainly a lot I can give off the field as well as on it."
Source: AFP
