Barthez attacked by fans
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Barthez ponders Nantes future after fan attack
Former Manchester United goalkeeper Fabien Barthez could quit Nantes after he was attacked by fans following a 2-0 home defeat to Rennes at the weekend.
The 36-year-old was forced to stop his car as he was driving out of the club's training ground with a member of his family hours after Saturday's match, when he was confronted by a cluster of angry Les Canaris supporters.
Nantes president Rudi Roussillon claims one fan attempted to get inside the Porsche to confront Barthez, while others punched and kicked at the vehicle.
Barthez, a member of the France teams that won the 1998 World Cup and finished runners-up to Italy in 2006, is believed to be shaken by the incident and did not attend training on Sunday.
He is currently with his family and is contemplating his future.
'He is traumatised,' said Roussillon in French daily L'Equipe.
'He has been around a while and has seen quite a lot of things, but I know one thing - he hates physical violence. That is what happened on Saturday.
'He has left Nantes to recharge his batteries and be with his family. It is understandable. All day (on Sunday), I tried to raise his spirits.'
Saturday's defeat kept Nantes bottom of France's Ligue 1 and eight points adrift of safety with four games left in their campaign. -
poor fellow
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Poor chap...
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If i was him, i would just drive away....
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BARTHEZ BIDS AU REVOIR TO NANTES
Veteran goalkeeper Fabien Barthez has confirmed he will not play again for French Ligue 1 strugglers Nantes.
The 1998 World Cup winner was attacked by a group of Les Canaris fans on Saturday night, hours after a 2-0 home defeat to Rennes.
The 35-year-old was forced to stop his car as he was driving out of the club's training ground, and ended up trading blows with a supporter who had attempted to get inside the Porsche. Other fans were seen punching and kicking the vehicle.
Barthez on Monday told radio station France Info he was quitting the club for safety reasons.
"I will not play for Nantes again," he said. "What happened went beyond the scope of sport. It has nothing to do with football.
"I no longer feel safe there and it's better for me to leave."
Barthez did not attend training with Les Canaris on Sunday, choosing instead to leave the city with his family.
He came out of retirement in December to sign a short-term contract with Nantes, tying him to the club until the end of the season.
But he has made some errors in his five months there and has been barracked by fans.
His most high-profile gaffe came on April 1 when he spilled a seemingly harmless cross into his own net to hand relegation rivals Sedan a 1-0 victory at the Stade de la Beaujoire. -
he is a poor keeper in my opinion
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Well... he had better days... WC & EC winner...Originally posted by imprezaWRXSTi22B:he is a poor keeper in my opinion
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well he's better than coupet in winning eleven