An agreement was reached on Friday between OM and Toulouse for the transfer of André-Pierre Gignac, the OM president Dassier announced this afternoon.
Jean-Claude Dassier announced in the introduction to the press conference devoted to the Olympian transfer window a tentative agreement had been reached between Olympique de Marseille and Toulouse for the transfer of Andre-Pierre Gignac, top scorer in France during the 2008-09 season. He will undergo his medical this weekend before signing a five year contract. Currently with a knock to the ankle, and not registered, Gignac will obviously not play this Saturday with OM against Lorient.
A powerhouse
Born in the region, Andre-Pierre Gignac grew far from Marseille, in Lorient, where he came through the youth system and made his début as a pro in the second division.
But it was once he reached the elite that the striker burst onto the screen, with 2006-07 season full of goals (9) which brought about desire, Lille and Toulouse to name them. "Dede" eventually gave his preference to Toulouse, and continued his progression. Just like his team, his first year was difficult under the leadership of Eli Baup. The following season, with Alain Casanova in charge, would be explosive. Unstoppable, he scored 24 goals and was crowned top scorer in France in 2009.
One year, eight more goals on his counter, and the caps with France later on, Gignac, often compared to Jean-Pierre Papin for his ability to shoot from all positions, preparing to follow in the footsteps of the master shooter. Within the club that made him dream as a child in the Bouches du Rhone region, "We went in turns to the Virage Sud, with the scarf around our necks. I was really a massive OM fan, and I still am. After matches, the first result that I look for is that of Marseille. My dream is to play for OM" he admitted in 2007 in the daily paper Ouest-France. He continued, prophetically: "If tomorrow I can go there and I'm sure to play all the games, I'd walk there. I’d crawl if necessary! But in football, this is not how it works. We have to wait and see if I confirm. But if I confirm my potential, I’m sure that one day I will play for OM. I don’t know when, but I will wear the jersey".
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Attaquant
Né le 5 décembre 1985 à Martigues
1m86 / 84 kgs
International français (16 sélections – 4 buts)
Palmarès
Meilleur buteur de L1 en 2009 (Toulouse)
Parcours
2004-05 : Lorient (L2) – 13 matches, 2 buts
2005-06 : Pau (N) – 18m, 8b
2005-06 : Lorient (L2) – 1m
2006-07 : Lorient (L1) – 37m, 9 b
2007-08 : Toulouse (L1) – 28m, 2b (C1 : 2m - C3 : 5m, 2b)
2008-09 : Toulouse (L1) – 38m, 24b
2009-10 : Toulouse (L1) – 31m, 8b (C3 : 5m, 3b)
2010-10 : Toulouse (L1) – 1m
