Leandro Trossard wants to leave Brighton & Hove Albion in this transfer window, with his agent claiming on Friday that the player has been ostracised at the club since an altercation between the Belgium international and a team-mate.
Trossard’s agent, Josy Comhair, has also claimed the 28-year-old forward is no longer on speaking terms with head coach Roberto De Zerbi.
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Trossard, who has been linked with a move away from the south coast this January, is yet to play for the club this year after being left on the bench against Everton and omitted from the squad for the FA Cup win over Middlesbrough.
De Zerbi then confirmed on Friday that Trossard would not be a part of his squad to face Liverpool on Saturday after he left a training session prematurely without his permission.
“He left the session without saying anything to me. And it’s not good,” said De Zerbi.
“I spoke with him and I explained this attitude, behaviour, I don’t like.”
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But, in an extraordinary statement published on Friday evening, Trossard’s agent said that the player had been unfairly frozen out.
The statement said: “Before Leandro left for Qatar, Brighton’s intention was to have Leandro sign on. This did not happen, as the parties did not come to an agreement. Leandro has also indicated that he is ready for his next step.
“After the World Cup, there was an altercation between Leandro and a player in training over a trivial matter. Since then, the manager no longer speaks to Leandro, which is obviously not conducive to the atmosphere, nor is it performance-oriented.
“Leandro still had a starting place against Southampton and Arsenal, but against Everton he was on the bench. He was also not included in the five substitutions that took place at the time, and this without any explanation.
“In the run-up to the game against Middlesbrough for the FA Cup, Leandro had already indicated twice that he had problems with his calf. This was the reason why he stopped training. This was, incidentally, in consultation with the medical staff.
“The manager told Leandro that he had to train separately. Last Monday, the manager humiliated Leandro in group and indicated that he no longer wanted to see him. A manager who has not communicated directly with his player for four weeks is really incomprehensible. Incidentally, it is also the manager who has indicated several times that a transfer is the most convenient solution.”
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The statement concluded by saying that Trossard wanted to leave Brighton immediately.
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It added: “It is therefore important that Brighton cooperates with a potential transfer during this transfer period and shows a benevolent attitude, which is beneficial to both parties.”
Brighton have an option to extend Trossard’s existing contract, which runs out this summer, by another year to June 2024.
According to reports in Belgium, the 28-year-old has persistently rejected offers of a new deal.
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(Photo: Getty Images)
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