Courtesy of Flickr user Andrea Sartorati
Nicolas Anelka’s career just does not want to end. The former Chelsea striker has been linked to Brazilian club Atletico Mineiro where football legend Ronaldinho currently plies his trade. There has been no official announement from either the club or the player but Atletico Mineiro president Alexandre Kalil posted on his official Twitter account that “Anelka e do Galo”, which means “Anelka is a rooster,” a reference to the club’s nickname.
Anelka é do Galo.
— Alexandre Kalil (@alexandrekalil) April 6, 2014
Atletico Mineiro would be the twelfth club in Anelka’s career since he made the move as a youth player from Paris Saint Germain to Arsenal in 1997. The 35 year old striker has played in England, France, Spain, Italy, Turkey, China, and will soon be plying his trade in Brazil for the first time. Anelka was asked about where he would play next season but he was noncommittal with his answer.
"I haven’t decided anything yet. My contract with West Bromwich Albion officially ended on 29 march and bar a miracle, there won’t be any new challenge before the next season starts, be it in Europe or in an exotic country. I want to play football like when I was young, connect myself again with the love for the game of my debut."
The striker was sacked from West Brom for his use of the “quenelle” gesture, which is allegedly anti-Semitic, in a goal celebration earlier this season. Anelka faced a tribunal that handed down a fine and a suspension from the FA as well as the club itself. Anelka refused to accept the punishment from either entity and his contract was terminated by West Brom. He is in the familiar position of being a free agent but it seems that he has found a new home.
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