Nonda 'wants to stay'
Friday, June 20, 2003
Article summary
The coveted AS Monaco FC striker Shabani Nonda has said that he wants to remain at the Stade Louis II.
Article body
Going nowhere
Nonda had looked set to be joining Lyon earlier this week when the clubs agreed a €15m fee for the French First Division's 26-goal top scorer in 2002/03. But after Monaco won their appeal against relegation for financial reasons yesterday, the Congolese international has insisted he has no intention of leaving.
'I want to stay'
As well as retaining their place among the French élite, Monaco, who have a reported €53m debt, also have a UEFA Champions League campaign to look forward to next season. Nonda, 26, said: "That is another reason for me to want to stay at Monaco. As a forward, I am thrilled at the prospect of playing against other top European strikers. It is what I wanted and what the players worked so hard to achieve."
Monaco relief
Didier Deschamps' team were runners-up behind Lyon in Ligue 1, and Nonda added: "We are very relieved and happy to be able to continue with our ambitions." Monaco learned yesterday that they had successfully appealed against the decision of the French Professional League's financial committee to demote them.
'Keep it together'
Although Monaco and Lyon officials shook hands on a "fee between €15m and €18m", according to the latter club's president Jean-Michel Aulas, Monaco now hope to "keep the current squad of players together", Aulas's counterpart Jean-Louis Campora said.
