Vincent Enyeama’s days at Lille might be gradually coming to an end after the Nigerian was blacklisted by new Lille coach, Marcelo Bielsa.
Argentine tactician, Bielsa, was appointed in May, replacing Franck Passi.
And one of his first move at reshaping the squad that finished 11th last season was to freeze out Enyeama and 10 other senior players.
The ex-Super Eagles skipper has been at the club since 2011, impressing each season despite his teammates, time and time again, letting him down.
Yet Bielsa believes his team will be better off without the Nigerian and other long-serving squad members.
Unlike the rest of the team who were asked to resume for preseason training on June 19, Enyeama and his colleagues were told to start preparing for the new campaign on July 3.
Enyeama took to Twitter on Monday to share a photo of himself alongside the other outcasts.
Always a pleasure to be back with the team @riomavuba @BautheacEric @jpalmieri_15 @nangislenny.life couldn’t be more beautiful#LAREPRISE pic.twitter.com/eBnzUsnBoP
— vinny (@vinpee) July 3, 2017
Among the blacklisted players is Eder, 29, who scored the winning goal in last summer’s European Championship final for Portugal against France, which helped earn him a permanent move to Lille from Swansea City on a four-year deal.
Others include Ivorian, Junior Tallo, France internationals, Rio Mavuba and Marvin Martin, Zambia’s Stoppila Sunzu and Montenegro international Marko Basa.
“It’s a bit bizarre, but I’m handling it OK,” Tallo told L’Equipe. “I was informed like the others, by text. We’re under contract, the club does what it wants. We would have liked to have had a discussion. But it’s a business choice made by the bosses.
“As for me, I’m under contract. I will respect the two years I have left. I’m in no hurry. I want to establish myself at Lille. It’s the club that wants me to leave. We’ll see if they find a solution between now and the end of the transfer window. I’m calm.”