Former Liverpool defender confirms surprise transfer 7 months after leaving club – Liverpool FC

Seven months after terminating his contract at Montpellier following a dispute with his manager, former Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho has been handed a new club.

“You have to know how to leave the table when respect is no longer served,” was Sakho’s message when he left Montpellier in November.

His exit came after reports of a confrontation with manager Michel Der Zakarian in training, which led to the centre-back being sent off and being labeled a “foul”.

Sakho was then claimed to have grabbed Der Zakarian by the collar, causing the coach to fall and a “family chain” around his neck to break.

The 34-year-old, who spent four years at Liverpool and became a cult hero among fans, spent seven months out of action before finding a new club.

His next deal comes in Georgia, joining FC Torpedo Kutaisi, the Erovnuli Liga side now managed by former Blackburn manager Steve Kean.

The club confirmed their deal on Tuesday, with Sakho acting as an ambassador for the club alongside his playing duties, including a role as a mentor to academy players.

RMC Sport report that he will sign an initial one-year deal with an option for a further 12 months, arriving with Torpedo Kutaisi midway through the campaign and currently second in the table.

It serves as another twist in a career fraught with controversy for Sakho, whose time at Liverpool has been marred by problems with Jurgen Klopp and a ban for alleged doping offences.

The ban that pushed his career

The Frenchman was suspended by both FIFA and UEFA after testing positive for what was believed to be a banned substance in 2016, which saw him miss the Europa League final and ultimately the European Championship with France.

He never played for Liverpool’s first team again, but spent the first half of 2016/17 with the U21s.

UEFA later dismissed the case as it was determined that the weight loss supplements Sakho had taken were not on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s banned list.

Sakho sought reparations for damages caused by the case and his ban, WADA apologized after the trial and reached a financial settlement with the player.

However, the controversy arguably blighted his career, with Sakho joining Crystal Palace after a successful loan spell in 2017 before returning to France with Montpellier in 2021.

He has not played for his country since 2018, his first and only cap since his 2016 ban coming in a 1-0 friendly win over Uruguay.

In 2007, Sakho became the youngest player to captain Paris Saint-Germain at just 17 years and eight months.