Stephane Dalmat has confirmed he has no future at Rennes and is already looking ahead to a summer move abroad.
French star could be off to China
Stephane Dalmat has confirmed he has no future at Rennes and is already looking ahead to a summer move abroad.
The former Tottenham and Inter midfielder joined Rennes in 2010 but boss Frederic Antonetti has used the skilful veteran sparingly in recent times.
And the much-travelled star is now resigned to the fact that his time at Rennes is coming to an end.
Dalmat said: "It is a little strange but things are very clear - I know I will not play anymore. I am training all week and I am free during the weekend.
"In the autumn we talked. I proposed that he (Antonetti) take a young player rather than me because I was not interested in doing the trips only to play five minutes or not at all. I was not really used to that.
"I hoped to leave in the winter and Rennes were keen to let me free. But I didn't have anything concrete. So I am still here and I have not created a problem. I try to help the young players.
Fed up
"I have nothing against the coach, who I respect a lot. Early in the season I felt I could become important for the team again. But then, something has been broken. In November, I was fed up.
"I have three months remaining on my contract and I want it to go off smoothly, without any trouble."
But Dalmat is adamant his career in football is not coming to an end, even if he insists his future does not lie in France.
"I am 33-years-old and it is not the end for me," he added. "I know I will play again next season but it will not be in France. I don't really want to stay.
"My character has not been appreciated in France. When I see the respect people still have for me in Italy after my stay with Internazionale, I can't see why I should stay in France.
"I am close to the end of my career and now I want to have fun. I know the following (move) will be abroad, in a country from the Gulf, in China or USA."
