Thauvin: ‘I could’ve joined Lazio, I miss Ligue 1’ | OneFootball

Udinese winger Florian Thauvin revealed his desire to return to Ligue 1 and remembered when he was just a step away from joining Lazio earlier in his career.

The 30-year-old French winger joined the Friulian outfit last year after his contract with Mexican outfit Tigres came to an end. He has looked positive with the Bianconeri this season, scoring five goals and providing three assists in 21 matches.

A talented forward, Thauvin only ever managed to show his best at club level with Olympique Marseille, where he scored 86 goals and provided 61 assists across 281 matches. He also won the World Cup with France in 2018, playing just a single minute in the tournament.

Speaking to L’Equipe via TMW, Thauvin first discussed his desire to return to a French club in the near future.

“I miss the league, I miss life in France. Ligue 1 is a league that I know very well and in which I have always done well. If I have the opportunity, if a good project presents itself, I’d like to return to Ligue 1.

“No one has moved for me yet though… Look at my videos, I’m in crazy shape. A few days ago, in a training session I ran 9 kilometres in the session, something unheard of.”

The 30-year-old French winger then reflected on a time when he was close to joining Lazio earlier in his career.

“Once the loan ended, I returned to Newcastle and told Benitez that I wanted to return to OM immediately. At that moment, however, Lazio came forward, they wanted me badly because they were signing Marcelo Bielsa.

“The coach had his assistant call me and I had to go to Lazio. In the end, however, Bielsa never arrived in Rome, and so I chose to return to OM.”