Former Liverpool centre-back Mamadou Sakho has left Ligue 1 side Montpellier with immediate effect after he allegedly knocked over the manager.
Sakho, 33, has left Montpellier after arriving in 2021 from Crystal Palace. The France international was previously suspended by the club on October 24, after he grabbed 60-year-old manager Michel Der Zakarian by the collar and knocked him to the ground, according to L’Equipe.
The confrontation was said to have begun after Sakho was not awarded a free kick during training by the manager, who called him a ‘cry baby’. Sakho reacted before leaving training after staff stepped in to de-escalate the incident.
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Sakho was suspended by the club but has now seemingly left on his own accord, although he still maintains his innocence in the altercation, refusing to accept any of the blame. In a statement, Sakho said: “You have to know how to leave the table when respect is no longer served,' the statement began.
“Following the incident that took place last week at the training centre and for which I decline all responsibility, I have decided, on this day of 11/2/2023, to ending my collaboration with Montpellier Herault Sports Club.
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“I spent two years in this family club where I took pleasure to share my high-level experience with my team-mates and my 'little brothers' from the centre of training. At the same time, I think them for their support flawless as well as the medical stuff without forgetting the supporters who appreciated my time at the club.
“Thanks also to the sports director Bruno Carotti for his loyalty to me throughout my adventure [at] Montpellier.
“Finally, I wanted to give a special thanks to the president, Laurent Nicollin, who, like his late father did before him, heads the MHSC with the values and principles that are dear to me.
“We met as men, let's leave as men. Happy end of the season, Mamadou Sakho.”
Sakho played 80 times for Liverpool between 2013 and 2017, only to be shown the door by Jurgen Klopp after a fallout in pre-season. He played 75 times for Palace before returning back to France in 2021. The defender was reportedly free to leave Montpellier in the summer but no transfer destinations materialised.
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