‘Sign from god’ made AC Milan star reject Everton move

Jason Soutar
AC Milan striker Olivier Giroud celebrates a goal

AC Milan striker Olivier Giroud rejected a move to Everton and Inter Milan due to prophetic dreams from his mother’s friend, he has confirmed in his book.

The France international was close to leaving Chelsea this summer for Inter before opting to join their arch-rivals.

In 2017, he was also nearing a move to Goodison Park, but opted to stay at Arsenal at the time.


Lineker and Gazza in well-travelled England XI


Speaking to The Guardian after releasing his autobiography, Always Believe, Giroud explains how the sign from a higher power helped convince him to snub those moves.

“Well, this is a little bit of a scoop,” France’s second all-time goalscorer said.

“She said: ‘You will have to trust God regarding your future’ and there was a kind of prediction that I would not get into the national team this time. So many things that turned out to be true, I believe those are signs from God in heaven.”

Giroud spent two-and-a-half years at Chelsea before leaving for Milan this summer. The 35-year-old won an FA Cup, Europa League and Champions League during his time at Stamford Bridge.

He has 90 Premier League goals in his career – for both Arsenal and the Blues – and has started well in Italy, scoring two goals in three league encounters so far.

Elsewhere, N’Golo Kante and Reece James are back to full fitness and in contention for Chelsea’s Premier League trip to Brentford on Saturday.

France midfielder Kante took tentative steps forward last week after self-isolation for testing positive for Covid-19.

But the 30-year-old returned to full Chelsea training on Tuesday, in another fillip for the Premier League leaders.

England full-back James missed the international fixtures due to an ankle problem but has also shaken off his injury to return to action at the Blues’ Cobham training base.

“Two key players have returned to Chelsea training to provide Thomas Tuchel with a welcome boost ahead of Saturday’s trip to Brentford,” read a Chelsea statement.

“Midfielder N’Golo Kante has returned to full training at Cobham following his period of self-isolation, whilst Reece James was also involved after withdrawing from the England squad last week due to an ankle injury picked up in the game against Manchester City.”