Gomis rules out January departure

Lyon striker Bafetimbi Gomis has revealed that he has no plans to leave les Gones before the summer transfer window.

The powerful forward was widely tipped to leave the club in the summer, but he remained at Stade Gerland after he refused to take a pay cut in order to join Newcastle.

Despite starting the season in the reserve squad, the 28-year-old was promoted back to the first team set-up and played full 90 minutes in weekend’s draw with Rennes.

And even if many people expected Gomis to leave les Gones at the earliest opportunity, the player says he will wait until his contract expires in the summer before leaving.

“The chairman doesn’t do only bad things towards me. He wanted to defend his interest and I defended mine,” Gomis said to L’Equipe after the game with Rennes.

“Now the transfer market is over and we have to work hand in hand again. I bear no grudge against him. I won’t forget but I am just here to work.

“If I made a decision to stay, that means I respect the hierarchy. I will remain at Lyon until next summer.”

Bafetimbi Gomis has spent last four years at Stade Gerland, having joined from Saint Etienne, scoring a total of 50 league goals in 146 Ligue 1 appearances for the French giants.