Giannelli Imbula Returns to France U21s, Still Resentful Over Sagnol Incident
Midfielder Giannelli Imbula has returned to the French U21 national team (Les Bleuets) for the first time since being dropped in October 2013 following an incident with a team physiotherapist. At the time, then-coach Willy Sagnol excluded Imbula from the squad after he reportedly spoke rudely during a substitution in Iceland.
Now back in the fold under new U21 coach Pierre Mankowski, Imbula has expressed his happiness about rejoining the national setup but admitted in an interview with L’Équipe that he has not forgiven or forgotten Sagnol’s decision:
“Did I understand this decision? No. That’s all I have to say,” Imbula declared bluntly. “I’m someone frank, I’m not afraid to say no, and I say no. He makes his choices. I don’t blame him, but I didn’t understand.”
Imbula also criticized the lack of communication after the incident:
“At the end of the match against Iceland, we hadn’t spoken. He didn’t say anything to me. So I said to myself: I’m not calling anyone. He doesn’t call me, I don’t call him—too bad for me.”
Despite his frustration, the Olympique de Marseille player acknowledged his part in the matter:
“I take responsibility for what I did.”
Now potentially eyeing a personal statement through performance, Imbula may be quietly targeting the upcoming OM vs. Bordeaux clash—a chance to respond not with words, but with the ball, against the man who once left him out.
