Gervinho: ‘Garcia sacking unfair’

By Football Italia staff

Gervinho reveals he left Roma because Rudi Garcia was sacked - “I found his dismissal unfair”.

The Ivorian winger joined Hebei China Fortune in January after two-and-a-half seasons with the Giallorossi.

“I could have stayed at Roma, at least until the end of the season,” Gervinho explained to Jeune Afrique.

“Honestly, I hadn’t planned to leave this winter. The departure of Rudi Garcia precipitated things though. I found his dismissal unfair and I didn’t want to stay.

“I wasn’t in the best frame of mind. I thought about it for several days when the Chinese club called me, then I accepted.

“I left because I wasn’t motivated to keep playing, I’ve just started a new adventure in a new country.

“By Chinese standards Qinhuangdao City isn’t very big, only three million people.”

New Lupi boss Luciano Spalletti declared Gervinho was going to “triple his wages” but the former Arsenal man insists his choice wasn’t only about money, despite talk he’ll earn €10m per year.

“I think anyone would have asked the same question as me. It’s a lot of money, it’s true, but even if Chinese clubs have deep pockets they don’t waste their money.

“If my directors decided to give me a wage like that, it’s because I deserve it. They spent a lot of money to bring me here.

“That means my performances were good and justified the transfer.

“It’s a new challenge, sportingly and also culturally. I’ve arrived in a new country, and of course I’m discovering it.

“Chinese clubs have spent a lot of money to bring good players from Europe, which will raise the level of the League.

“Obviously the level isn’t the same as in Europe, but I can see every day in my club that the players are eager for advice.

“They’re often with the foreigners, they want to learn.

“Just at Hebei players have arrived who have experience of great Leagues like [Stéphane] Mbia, who played in France, Spain and England, [Ezequiel] Lavezzi who has come from PSG [Paris Saint-Germain] and [Gael] Kakuta who played in big European Leagues.

“If the level progresses, the world will come, especially since the clubs are usually very well structured.”

Watch Serie A live in the UK on Premier Sports for just £9.99 per month including live LaLiga, Eredivisie, Scottish Cup Football and more. Visit: https://www.premiersports.com/subscribenow