After hearing of an announcement made earlier yesterday on Qatari club Al Saad’s official website stating that they had formally signed Pascal Feindouno, Saint-Étienne have acted swiftly to dispel such rumours…

Saint-Étienne have issued a clear statement that they do not intend to allow Guinean international midfielder Pascal Feindouno to leave the club for anything less than his market value after an announcement made by Al Saad that they had signed the player.

Echoing what their official line was yesterday, a press release on the club’s official website reads,

“Contrary to the news released on Internet site of the Qatari club, Al-Saad, no agreement no agreement has been found between Saint-Étienne and Al-Saad. 

“Pascal Feindouno left out of his own initiative to travel to Qatar yesterday morning without having obtained prior agreement from Saint-Étienne. 

“If no agreement can be reached in the next few hours, Saint-Étienne will retain Pascal Feindouno’s services.”

Feindouno hinted in the summer that he would like the challenge, and most probably the money, obtained in the Middle East. With Al Saad promising a large paycheque for the exciting midfielder, who has struggled to fire in Ligue 1 this season, it seems a matter of when, and not if, he leaves.