Putting a Presidential Foot Down (Nicely, Of Course)

By: Martha | July 8th, 2008

I put off posting this morning on the foolish assumption that something would be resolved on the Baky Kone front by early afternoon, my time. Ok, so the Nice board meeting to consider the most recent negotiations scheduled for yesterday was pushed to this morning — that’s still plenty of time for the news to break at a very reasonable hour for Americans, right? Then it was pushed back again to this evening. Then … Silence. No word at all, despite being well past the close of business in France.

Now, though, there’s finally some news: Maurice Cohen just did an interview with L’Equipe and, if the president is to be believed, negotiations are over, and Baky’s not going to Marseille. And no, dammit, this is not “a way … to put pressure on l’OM!” Why would you even suggest such a thing? (Pape Diouf, very disapprovingly and somewhat wordily, has no comment.)

According to L’Equipe, Nice countered Marseille’s most recent offer (€8.5 million + a €1 million bonus) with a request for €9 million + a €1 million bonus + 15% of the resale price when Baky moves on; l’OM refused, so Cohen broke off negotiations, “nicely, without getting angry.” (As if Nice could do otherwise. And no, I will never stop making that joke.) That does not, however, mean Baky’s off the market — all it means is that talks with Marseille are over. Nice remain very happy to sit down with anyone who can come up with their €12 million asking price.

The best part of all this, however, is not the (alleged) end of negotiations, nor the fact that the Koné Saga is (supposedly) resolved. The best part is that Baky has been excused from training this week because he has a note from his doctor. A NOTE FROM HIS FREAKING DOCTOR!* Seriously. I wonder if Antonetti recognized Baky’s handwriting, or if he got a friend to write it to make sure the club were fooled.

Cohen doesn’t make much of an effort to hid his disgust in the L’Equipe interview, but says rather hopefully that Koné’s current behavior isn’t typical of him, and may be down to bad advice. Whether it’s his fault or not, though, Baky’s expected at training on Monday, and if he doesn’t show up he’ll face sanctions from the club, and there will be no chance of him being sold.

I hope to god this really is the end of it and not just another step in the negotiations, if only because the end will free us up to talk about something else. Plus, there are worse things to consider than Rémy and Koné running at defenses together, that’s for damn sure. And, if it’s not over, I hope both clubs at least shut up about the negotiations until they’re sorted, and just tell us when Baky’s packing his bags.

[I've got a big, over-excited post on David Ospina coming tomorrow -- no more Baky, for at least 24 hours. Hopefully.]

ETA: Baky’s issued a statement on his website, and is not happy — he thinks the club have over-valued him (don’t hear that much), insists he’s been wronged, and says his “bitterness is great.” Fantastic.

ETA2: The club’s response.

*I would like everyone to appreciate the self-control I’m showing in not making a “getting excused from Gym” joke here. Thank you.