Thursday, 4th July, 2013
Djibril Cisse has shrugged off his disappointment at not securing a move to Montpellier by signing a one-year deal with Russian club Kuban Krasnodar.
Cisse parted ways with parent club Queens Park Rangers last week, but his efforts to engineer a transfer to Montpellier were scuppered by the Ligue 1 club’s president.
Cisse, who spent part of last season on loan in Qatar with Al Gharafa, turned up at Kuban’s pre-season training camp in Austria yesterday with an eye on a transfer.
And the Russian club today revealed the deal was done, with Cisse immediately targeting a return to France’s national fold as a long-term goal.
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The 31-year-old has the option of an additional year tied with his deal, and Kuban sporting director Sergei Doronchenko said: "Djibril Cisse needs no introduction for sports fans. His name is well known in the world of football."
Cisse has enjoyed spells at Liverpool – where he won the Champions League in 2005 – and a league title victory with Panathinaikos, around his 2003 Confederations Cup win with France.
However, his national career has stalled, with his last appearance coming under former coach Laurent Blanc in 2011.
And Cisse will be hoping his Kuban connections can help him gain another foothold with Les Blues, with Doronchenko adding: "He is not just a big name that will now be associated with Kuban.
"The player is full of ambition, and he has big plans for the season with us. His main objective is to make a return with the French national team, thanks to his work for Kuban."
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