Bacary Sagna said reports he will stay with Benevento in Serie B are untrue and he hasn’t yet decided what his “next challenge” will be.
The former Manchester City defender was a surprise addition to the side at the foot of the Serie A table in January.
“I signed a short-term contract with Benevento and did this in the knowledge that I was joining a club who were very much cut adrift at the bottom of the table at the time,” Sagna told FootballFanCast.com.
Bacary Sagna said reports he will stay with Benevento in Serie B are untrue and he hasn’t yet decided what his “next challenge” will be.
The former Manchester City defender was a surprise addition to the side at the foot of the Serie A table in January.
“I signed a short-term contract with Benevento and did this in the knowledge that I was joining a club who were very much cut adrift at the bottom of the table at the time,” Sagna told FootballFanCast.com.
“It was the challenge that intrigued me more than anything else, but despite a big effort from the players, it was ultimately not enough to save the club from relegation.
“The highlight of my time there was the victory at the San Siro against Milan, that was a special night for the club and I will always remember the Benevento fans, who are so passionate.”
There were even suggestions on Sky Sport Italia that Sagna could remain with Benevento even after their relegation into Serie B.
“They always made me feel very special and because of those wonderful fans, many of whom had been messaging me asking me to stay, perhaps my heart ruled my head a little as I left the door open to possibly staying with them.
“Unfortunately, local reports that I have agreed to sign a new deal with the club are inaccurate and somewhat wide of the mark as my time there has now drawn to its natural conclusion.
“The last few months of playing in Serie A have brought some great compliments from players, Coaches and media pundits about my football and it is always nice to attract those kind of comments from respected people within the game.”
The 35-year-old has a new lease of life after his Benevento experience and is eager to continue his playing career for some time to come.
“I have always lived a clean and healthy life. I have continued to maintain my own fitness regime outside of my club duties and I am feeling as good as I have ever done. I feel strong and positive that I have another two or three years of playing top level football still in me.
“I am in the fortunate position that I am a free player so there are several options open to me. Exactly where my next challenge is going to be is unknown at this moment, but in football you must always have the burning desire to win, to keep improving, to be one hundred percent professional.
“If you have that, all things are possible for a club. I still hold my own ambitions and my next move will be to a club that thinks likewise. You must never lose the ambition to keep improving, no matter what position you hold in life.
“I have always been an optimist and I can’t wait to begin working with a new group of people, to make a new group of friends, to listen to fresh ideas.”