‘I sacrificed myself to save the club I love’ – Villarreal’s Georges Mikautadze opens up on tearful Lyon exit | OneFootball

Villarreal centre-forward Georges Mikautadze (24) has opened up on his summer move from Lyon to the La Liga side. The 24-year-old Georgian international has put pen to paper on a six-year deal with the Champions League-playing Villarreal side. Mikautadze left Lyon, his formative club and his native city, after only one season, in which he scored 18 goals in 49 games.

Mikautadze’s exit was very much down to Lyon’s financial struggles, as DNCG – French football’s financial watchdog – requested Les Gones to balance the books through player sales. It was expected that Lyon would be forced to sell one of Malick Fofana or Mikautadze. Eventually, the latter was sold, in exchange for a €35m transfer fee.

Speaking to Canal+, Mikautadze reveals his exit was decided only four days before the closing of the summer transfer window. “We knew a sale needed to happen. I had this opportunity with Villarreal, and that’s how swiftly it went.” When asked if he sacrificed himself for the club, Mikautadze said he’d agree with that stance. “I sacrificed myself to save the club I love.“

GFFN | Bastien Cheval