Tianjin’s Modeste admits he prefers to stay at Cologne
BERLIN: Hot-shot French striker Anthony Modeste admits he would rather have stayed at Cologne, than gone on loan to Chinese side Tianjin Quanjian, with his Bundesliga club bottom of the table.
Modeste netted 25 goals in Germany’s top flight last season as Cologne finished fifth to qualify for the Europa League, losing their opening game 3-1 at Arsenal.
An offer from China saw the 29-year-old Modeste sent on loan for two years to Tianjin in a transfer which could earn Cologne up to
35mil (RM174mil).
However, while he plays in the Chinese Super League, Cologne are struggling for goals and rooted to the bottom of the Bundesliga table with just one point from their first six games.
“Everyone who knows me knows that I would have preferred to have stayed at Cologne,” Modeste told magazine Sport Bild.
“There was a lot written and said, about why I moved, some true and a lot was false.
“I scored 25 goals and Cologne finished fifth, in the Europa League, which I would have really liked to have played in.
“Then came a concrete offer from China, which for me, but especially for FC Cologne, was financially quite unique. After that, no one wanted to negotiate with me or my advisor about the possibility of staying in Cologne, which is what I would have wanted. “I can completely understand it. “I moved from Hoffenheim to
Cologne for 4.5mil (RM22mil), meanwhile I am 29 years old, not an international player and a club wants
to sign me for 35mil.
“I just don’t agree with the way the transfer was communicated.”
Modeste revealed that his wife and children, who are two and six years old, have stayed in Cologne and he flies home to visit them.
“Because my son already had health problems, a move to China for my wife and family wasn’t possible,” he explained.
“Whenever I can, I visit them, even if it is only for two days.
“Saying goodbye is always hard for everyone but it is better than going the whole season without seeing each other. It is hard having to live so long without family around but it is only for now and it’s better for me and Cologne that I am here.”
Modeste says his departure is not the reason why Cologne are bottom of the table.
“Of course not, I am not a Messi or Ronaldo and I don’t think I alone could make a difference,” said Modeste.
“Last season, we surprised a lot of teams with our speed in attack. This year, teams have been warned and are setting themselves up better to face Cologne.
“For every player, the Europa League is a dream, but for teams like Cologne it is also a burden.” — AFP