Mercato: Giroud announced close to joining Lloris in Los Angeles

The American dream for Olivier Giroud? The Athletic recently reported on discussions between the AC Milan striker, free at the end of the season, and Los Angeles FC, 2022 MLS champion and finalist at the end of the past year. The team goes further and affirms that the trend is for Giroud to leave for California. “Even if the transfer is not yet complete, the Blues striker is preparing to change continent after twelve years abroad,” we say in the columns of the sports daily, estimating that only “ administrative problems” linked to a move to Uncle Sam’s country separate the player from his destiny. “(Giroud’s) will is clear,” add our colleagues, leaving little room for suspense.

If necessary, the former Montpellier would find a certain Hugo Lloris, his comrade-in-arms during the victorious Russian campaign in 2018, in Los Angeles. The latter signed there at the start of the year, after long months on the shelf at Tottenham. Olivier Giroud has also been based in London for a long time, when he wore the colors of Arsenal (2012-18) and Chelsea (2018-21). All before taking over the management of Italy, he who has been shining with AC Milan for almost three years (46 goals in 121 matches, champion in 2022). At 37 years old, he demonstrates at club and national level that he still has it under his belt. Didier Deschamps has still not found a better fit for the center-forward position and the top scorer in the history of the French team (129 caps, 56 goals) leaves with the favor of the forecasts to start the Euro 2024 in the 11, undoubtedly with Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé.

To see if this potential departure for MLS would be synonymous with the end of the international career of the native of Chambéry. Out of sight...out of mind, all those who left Europe have given up on the Blues under Deschamps, from André-Pierre Gignac to N'Golo Kanté (at least until further notice), including Blaise Matuidi. Note that Giroud would also give up applying for a place in Thierry Henry's group for the Olympics by signing for LAFC. The team understands that the Californian team “will need him at the end of the Euro”. Since his debut in Blue, in November 2011 against… the United States, Giroud has already given a lot to France.