Pedretti leaving for Lyon
Friday, June 17, 2005
Article summary
Olympique Lyonnais have confirmed the signing of France midfielder Benoît Pedretti from Olympique de Marseille.
Article body
First signing
After just one season at the Stade Vélodrome, Pedretti will join the French champions for a €7m fee and on a four-year contract. The 24-year-old becomes the first new face at Lyon since Gérard Houllier arrived as coach at the end of last month.
Biggest stage
Pedretti, capped 22 times by his country, cost Marseille €4.5m from FC Sochaux-Montbéliard last summer. However, after Marseille finished fifth to miss out on a UEFA Cup place, Pedretti could not resist the chance to play on the biggest stage with Lyon. The club reached the quarter-finals of last season's UEFA Champions League and won their fourth straight French title.
