After only three matches on the bench of Asteras Tripolis, Claude Makélélé decided to leave the Greek club, disappointed by the interference of the leaders in his tactical choices. One of the main points of friction: the use of a former AS Saint-Étienne striker, whom the managers refused to see on the field due to his contractual situation.
Makélélé, who joined Asteras with the promise of controlling the team, spoke bluntly: “They promised me full control of the team. I was the one who had to decide who played or didn’t play, even though transfers were not my responsibility.”he confided in an interview with London World. However, these commitments were quickly betrayed. During the 3-1 victory against Athens Kallithea, Asteras leaders demanded that Bile, who had not yet signed a contract extension, remain on the bench.
Makélélé refused to comply with these directives. “This player has a small amateur salary, but he is the best player on the team. I brought him on for twenty minutes, he made two assists and we won the match”he explained. Despite this decisive performance, the leaders persisted in wanting to dismiss Bile, arguing that his contractual status did not justify his playing time. “They thought they could control whether he played or not under the pretext that he had not signed a new contract with the club”continued Makélélé, emphasizing the absurdity of the situation.
“They know the name Makélélé, but they don’t know the human being”
This latest episode is the last straw for the former French international, who prefers to end his adventure in Greece: “I love my job, but I can’t accept people meddling and telling me what I can or can’t do.”he said. For Makélélé, football goes beyond simple contractual considerations: “Football is about human beings, about connection, about tactical knowledge, about technical skills, individually and collectively. We use data, of course, but football is more than that.”
The case of Darnell Bile, trained at ASSE, is revealing of what modern football is today, torn between sporting and economic considerations. In Saint-Étienne, Bile had already refused to sign a professional contract, which precipitated his departure and finally landed in Greece. His time at ASSE was also marked by controversy, notably because of a violent gesture during a youth tournament. Despite this personality, Bile is full of talent, which is what Makélélé remembers, who defended his choice to use him tooth and nail: “I used it because of its quality”he insisted, refusing to let financial considerations dictate his choices.
Claude Makélélé leaves Asteras Tripolis with a reinforced conviction: football, for him, remains above all a matter of principles and honesty towards the players. “They know the name Makélélé, but they don’t know the human being”he declared, highlighting the gap between his reputation as a legendary player and his deeply human vision of football.
