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Chelsea ace Olivier Giroud details transfer window stance after failed Inter Milan move
Chelsea star Olivier Giroud has opened up about his failed move to Inter Milan in the January transfer window as well as the details of the discussions he held with boss Frank Lampard.
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Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud has revealed he has moved on from the disappointment of not leaving Stamford Bridge in the last transfer window but has opened up about why he was interested in a move to Inter Milan and discussions he held with manager Frank Lampard ahead of the January transfer deadline.
Giroud has spent most of the season on the sidelines after Lampard made Tammy Abraham his main striker.
Before the January window opened, the 33-year-old had only made five Premier League appearances and had not only failed to find the back of the net but was also not allowed to play a full 90 minutes.
"To be honest, I saw myself playing elsewhere," Giroud told French outlet Telefoot.
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"I had six tough months, which is why I wanted a change of scene to get back to playing and enjoying myself on the pitch, so I tried to leave in January."
Inter Milan had expressed an interest and Giroud admitted he spoke to Nerazzurri boss Antonio Conte about a possible move.
"Everyone knows the most interesting sporting project for me was at Inter Milan," Giroud added.
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"The problem was that it dragged on and although Lazio and Tottenham were both interested, in the end it was no longer a question of where I would go, rather if I could leave or not.
"As for Inter, I'd spoken to Conte on the phone and he knew me from his time at Chelsea, having been the coach that brought me here.
"He liked my profile as a player, so that was an advantage, plus Inter were going to be in the Champions League [next year] and it's a huge club.
"I went to see Frank Lampard in his office on the three or four final days of the transfer window every morning to try to find a solution. He gave me my chance, and I took it. In the end, Lampard needed me."
Giroud admitted that while he tried to leave the club Lampard had made it clear that the World Cup winner wouldn't be moved on unless the Blues signed a replacement - that didn't happen and the Frenchman stayed.
"I did everything I could, but Chelsea didn't want to let me leave because the condition in place was that they had to bring in a replacement," Giroud said.
"On 31 January, I still hoped that I would leave. I was very disappointed, but I'd say that by the following morning, I'd put that behind me."
Since January Giroud has scored two goals in four league appearances and also helped the Blues beat Liverpool in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
"I got straight back into the swing of things and was lucky that we had the winter break," Giroud added.
"I came back the week after raring to go and had the game against Manchester United when I came on and scored, but was marginally offside.
"Then there was the goal against Tottenham and I started playing regularly. That's how it is now. The coach [Frank Lampard] had promised me more playing time and kept his word, so I simply tried to take my chance."