Sunday, 2nd Februrary, 2014
Saint-Etienne president Roland Romeyer has explained that his club insisted Kurt Zouma finish the current season with them as a condition of his transfer to Chelsea.
Prior to the transfer being concluded, Romeyer had been clear that Zouma would not leave the club this season and, through a deal with Chelsea which has seen the 19-year-old defender loaned back for the remainder of the campaign, has been able to keep his word while still pocketing a lucrative sum.
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And for Les Verts, Zouma would not have been sold were he not able to complete the season at the club.
"It was a decision made by the whole team", Romeyer told beINSPORT.
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"It was out of the question that he would leave before 30th June.
"Finally, we found a very good agreement with Chelsea because he will be able to finish his progress with the club at which he has been developed."
Zouma has made 13 appearances in Ligue 1 for Saint-Etienne during the current campaign and, with Les Verts fourth in the table, will be hopeful of departing on the back of having helped them secure a top three Champions League spot.
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