"As a player, I think this is very probably my last season. That’s why I’m enjoying every moment," Olivier Giroud said in comments reported by Foot Mercato and translated from French. On 30 September, he will turn 40, and the timing of that line makes it hard to read as anything other than a retirement hint. He also described it as his "last dance, very likely" after renewing for one more year.
Giroud's own words
The strongest part of this story is that Giroud is saying it himself, more than once. In comments to A Bola, translated from Portuguese, he said: "I am at peace with myself and with everything I have achieved in my career. I feel more relaxed than ever." He added that coming back to France after a long spell abroad was one of the best decisions for him.
That sits nicely alongside his France record, which still looks hefty. Giroud has 57 goals for France, and he won the 2018 World Cup with Les Bleus. He does not sound like a player chasing one more big chapter as much as someone who knows the end is close.
Lille still have him involved
The retirement talk is arriving while Lille are still using him. Giroud has played 5 Ligue 1 matches and 1 UEFA Champions League match this season, with 1 league goal and 2 assists. He has also logged 260 league minutes, which points to a managed role rather than the workload of a week-to-week starter.
That is probably why his line about negotiating one more year with his wife and family lands properly. It was not a grand farewell speech, just a veteran admitting the last stretch is close while still doing a job for his club. If he keeps that pace, there is still a bit of football left in him before the final goodbye.
Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →
