Karembeu heads back to France
Monday, January 31, 2005
Article summary
Christian Karembeu has left Servette FC along with Stéphane Ziani to join SC Bastia until the season's end.
Article body
Much travelled
The 34-year-old wanted to stay with the troubled Swiss side but their financial problems meant he, like several team-mates, was forced to look for a new club. Karembeu has played abroad for the past ten years, winning the 1997/98 UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid CF and also turning out for UC Sampdoria in Italy, English side Middlesbrough FC and Olympiacos CFP in Greece.
Ziani return
Former FC Nantes Atlantique player Karembeu, who was part of the France squad that won the 1998 FIFA World Cup and UEFA EURO 2000™, will be joined at Bastia by Servette team-mate Stéphane Ziani. The 33-year-old previously played for the Corsican club in the 1994/95 season.
Relegation battle
"We're particularly happy to welcome such players," said club president Louis Multari. Second from bottom in Ligue 1, Bastia welcome leaders Olympique Lyonnais tomorrow for a game rearranged from the weekend because of heavy snow.