The superstar who eclipsed Karim Benzema turned down a move to the Premier League's elite for a spot in Mexico with UANL Tigres after completing a "dream" spell
07:00, 14 Dec 2024
Andre-Pierre Gignac
Andre-Pierre Gignac is still playing in Mexico for UANL Tigres(Image: Azael Rodriguez)
What do you do as a star France international ripping up Ligue 1 when Manchester United, Liverpool or Arsenal come knocking for your sensational goal-scoring services? That's right, you take a deal which sees you playing in Mexico, of course.
Well, that's what former Toulouse frontman Andre-Pierre Gignac did anyway. The forward, who was born in the northwest of Marseille, completed his breakout season for Les Violets in 2008-09, when he finished as Ligue 1's top scorer with 24 goals ahead of a little-known striker from Lyon called Karim Benzema, who only managed 17.
Gignac stayed with Toulouse for the following campaign before his "dream" move to Marseille for £15million – but not before turning down an offer from the top end of the Premier League.
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While refusing to reveal the team which came in for him, Gignac said: "I had attractive offers. I had a very good English club in my footsteps at age 23, I had just finished top scorer in Ligue 1."
When asked if the English club was Liverpool, Gignac said: "Liverpool? Not far, this is a club that plays in red!"
Andre-Pierre Gignac was a star at his dream club Marseille
Andre-Pierre Gignac was a star at his dream club Marseille
But he believes he made the right choice, adding: "As a footballer, I no longer dream. It was becoming a professional footballer and playing for Marseille. I love this club."
Gignac, who turned 39 earlier this month, won the French League Cup twice with Les Olympiens and was courted again by Premier League giants after finishing second in the scoring charts behind Alexandre Lacazette in 2014-15, who would later leave for Arsenal.
But again he snubbed the chance for a place in the Premier League, instead opting to go to UANL Tigres in Mexico, where he has stayed since 2015.
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On his arrival there, he said: "I’m very happy, I’ve come to win the league and the Libertadores. Incredible welcome, thank you all, we’re going to do big things."
France international Gignac has since won three Apertura and two Clausura league titles with UANL, while finishing as a runner-up in the Libertadores and FIFA Club World Cup.