Former French international Lassana Diarra has called it time on his professional career, after his contract with French champions PSG was terminated.
Former Arsenal, Chelsea and Real Madrid star Lassana Diarra has announced his retirement from professional football, following the news of his contract termination with French heavyweights Paris Saint-Germain, a report from Daily Mail has confirmed.
The 33-year-old former France international joined PSG in January 2018, signing an eighteen-month deal and went on to make 18 appearances for Les Parisiens as they went on to clinch a domestic treble. The 2018-19 campaign hasn’t been all that kind on the veteran midfielder, as injuries had limited him to just 3 appearances for Thomas Tuchel’s side.
With PSG adding Leandro Paredes to their midfield in the January transfer window, Diarra was deemed surplus to requirements at the French capital club, leading to the termination of his contract. In the aftermath, the Frenchman took to Instagram to confirm that it was time to ‘hang up his boots.’
“For football, I gave a lot. Thanks to football, I received a lot. I did not do everything perfectly but I did it with heart, passion and kindness,” Diarra said, as quoted by Daily Mail.
“Thank you to all those who have encouraged me throughout my sporting career. I turn the page but I forget nothing. I will continue to work with enthusiasm, determination and sincerity in my new projects.”
Diarra burst onto the scenes at French outfit Le Havre in the early 2000’s before earning a move to Chelsea in 2005, being signed by Jose Mourinho. The midfielder went on to win a Premier League title, along with a League Cup and an FA Cup with the Blues, before making the switch to London rivals Arsenal in the summer of 2007.
Diarra’s stay at Arsenal, however, was hardly memorable, as he lasted just five months with the Gunners, featuring only 12 times, before joining Portsmouth in January 2008. A year later, the Frenchman earned another big move to Real Madrid where he made 116 appearances over two and a half years, winning a La Liga title, a Copa del Rey trophy and a Spanish Super Cup as well.
Post his stint at Real Madrid, Diarra had spells in Russia with Anzhi Makhachkala and Lokomotiv Moscow, following which he spent brief periods with Marseille in France and Al Jazira in UAE before signing for PSG. Diarra also featured 34 times for the French national team, having made his debut for Les Bleus in March 2007.
