Fernandez set for Nice exit

23 July 2012 20:17

Nice coach Claude Puel said Monday the Ligue 1 side were trying to off-load Peruvian international goalkeeper Raul Fernandez with immediate effect.

Fernandez is under contract until 2015 but has not featured in either of the club's two pre-season friendlies, and Puel wants him to move whatever the outcome of negotiations on an eventual transfer of their Colombian first-choice goalkeeper David Ospina.

"I'd like him to be transferred or loaned whatever the outcome of negotiations for the eventual transfer of Ospina," said Puel, who does not want one of the places available for a non-EU player to be used by someone sitting on the bench.

"It's not good for us to have a non-European replacement and it's not advantageous either for an international like Raul to be sitting on the bench."

Puel has stated that former Metz goalkeeper Joris Delle, who has been brought in on a four-year deal, will be the number one goalkeeper.

The 26-year-old Peruvian Fernandez was signed on a four-and-a-half year deal at the beginning of 2011 before being loaned out immediately to former club Universitario Lima.

He started just six games last season.

Source: AFP