Mamadou Sakho leaves Montpellier after clash with manager Michel der Zakarian

3rd Nov 2023 | Source: BBC

Mamadou Sakho only played six minutes for Montpellier this season

Defender Mamadou Sakho has left Montpellier after clashing with manager Michel der Zakarian in training.

L'Equipe said the ex-Liverpool player stormed off after his manager did not give him a foul in training and later, angered by something Der Zakarian said, grabbed him and knocked him over.

A club statement said "after 10 days of reflection, both parties have agreed in good faith" to end the contract.

But Sakho later wrote on social media: "I decline all responsibility."

The 33-year-old added: "You have to know how to leave the table when respect is no longer served."

The former France international, who also played for Crystal Palace, played 49 times for Montpellier since his July 2021 move but only six of them came after the arrival of Armenian Der Zakarian in February.

Sakho's spell at Liverpool also ended for disciplinary reasons.

He was sent home from Liverpool's pre-season tour of the United States in July 2016 after being late on three separate occasions and did not play for the club again - joining Crystal Palace, initially on loan, in February 2017.