Laurent Koscielny has been immediately removed from the A-selection of Girondins Bordeaux, reports L’Equipe. The defender, who came over from Arsenal in 2019, is one of the victims at the ailing French club. Koscielny’s skyrocketing salary is believed to be behind the ban, as Bordeaux is in a sporting and financial crisis. The team of trainer Vladimir Petkovic is in a disappointing seventeenth place in the Ligue 1.
Bordeaux supporters hold Koscielny responsible for the cartload of goals against. Petkovic’s team has already conceded 44 goals this season, more than any other team in Ligue 1. Koscielny, who also lost the captaincy at Bordeaux, is unable to stand up amid the sporting malaise, it says judgement. Paul Baysse and Mehdi Zerkane have also been told that they will have to train with the reserves for the time being. They have persistent behavioral problems.
Bordeaux would be desperate to get Koscielny off the payroll. The central defender has struggled with several injuries this season, meaning that he has only made his appearance in 11 of the 20 league games. Last Friday he remained on the bench for the entire game in the 0-1 loss at home against Olympique Marseille. It was the first time in 44 years that Marseille managed to win on a visit to Bordeaux. L’Equipe adds that Josh Maja, Samuel Kalu and Otávio are also at risk of being banned from the first team.
Koscielny refused to join Arsenal in training camp under then manager Unai Emery in the run-up to the 2019-20 season. The Frenchman hoped to force a rift and eventually exchanged the Emirates Stadium after nine years for a return to his native country. In particular, the way he was presented in France caused quite a stir in North London. The defender took off the Arsenal shirt and threw it on the ground, before showing the Bordeaux shirt. In the service of Bordeaux, Koscielny came to 65 official matches.
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