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7 months ago
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A French international has chosen to join an amateur level club.
It’s a signing that surprised many observers, given the player’s career: Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa signed up for Istres – a National 3 club, the equivalent of the 5th French division. The former Montpellier resident made the choice to go down to the amateur level to try to relaunch a career which had been completely at a standstill for four years.
We have to go back to 2020 and the year of the pandemic to find any trace of an appearance by Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa. The French international was then playing for Olympique Lyonnais. Sidelined, the central defender left the Rhone club through the back door, passing through the reserve team before disappearing from the radar.
4 selections for the French team
Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa will therefore try to regain pleasure by playing football again, at 34 years old. Revealed in Montpellier 12 years ago, this powerful and versatile defender has also had experiences abroad. After his debut in Hérault, Yanga-Mbiwa played in the Premier League (Newcastle), then in Serie A (AS Rome). A prosperous period which opened the doors to the French team for him. He made 4 caps with the Blues, between 2012 and 2014, at the start of the Didier Deschamps era.
Written by:
Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team. As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers. When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.
