Just now, several interesting football players are left without clubs and among them is Giorgi Makaridze. The 23-year-old Georgian goalkeeper and French “Le Mans” broke up their agreement in June, after the club knock out from the league. Makaridze almost 5 years was playing for “Le Mans”, which was also in the strongest league and he held there several matches.

What he is going to do and where he will continue his career – “World Sport” got in touch with him in France.

-      I am in France and I practice individually. I am still without club.

-       Why were you without club for such long time?

-       There is a factor of not being the member of the EU. It is a limit, especially for the goalkeeper. I will have a French passport in 6 months and it will be easier to join club. Before this, due to passport, I will play in the 3^rd league team of France. It is already 5 years that I am here and that’s why...

-        Is it excluded to return to "Le Mans"?

-       Yes. The club was bankrupt and moved to amateurs’ league. I am waiting for proposals from the 2^nd League teams and if it will not be, I will play for the third.

-       I understand. Well, don’t you have other options from other countries?

-       There were from Poland, Romania and from such level championships, but not from such high level club as “Steaua”. It does not matter now, I will stay in France for 6 months. I wish to play in the leading Championship and it is difficult to do this with Georgian passport. You must be much better than a member of the EU. It is no use to go somewhere else because of these 6 months. 

-       It is good, that you want to stay in the West European club.

-       My modest advice: I advise all Georgian football players to come to Europe and to agree on less salary, than it is in Russia and Ukraine at the beginning of the career. Otherwise, national team has nothing to do with it. Since Kakha Kaladze left football, nobody knows Georgian players in France and I think in many other countries. I was very glad about the decision of Giorgi Iluridze, who prefer Croatian “Hajduk” to Russian and Ukrainian clubs. Let everybody follow him! I hope, Iluridze will join the strong team in the future.

Ilia Nanobashvili