Former Liverpool and Crystal Palace defender Mamadou Sakho is looking to revive his career in the country of Georgia. After leaving Montpellier in November 2020, Sakho has been without a club, but he has reportedly held talks with Torpedo Kutaisi, a top-flight team managed by former Blackburn Rovers boss Steve Kean. The club, which has won the league title four times, hopes that Sakho’s presence will attract other high-profile players to join their ranks.
Kean, who faced protests from Blackburn fans during his time at the club, has since taken on coaching roles in various countries, including Singapore, Greece, Australia, and now Georgia. Kutaisi, the third-largest city in Georgia, is located near the Black Sea and shares borders with Russia, Turkey, and Armenia.
Sakho, who was purchased by Liverpool for £18 million from Paris Saint-Germain in 2013, has been offered a two-year contract with the option for a third season. In addition to a generous salary, Torpedo Kutaisi has also presented the French defender with various business opportunities and benefits for his family. With 80 senior appearances and three goals during his time at Anfield, Sakho made a significant impact on Liverpool’s defense.
After his spell at Liverpool, Sakho played for Crystal Palace, making 75 appearances for the club. He then returned to France to join Montpellier, where he played until his departure following an altercation with coach Michel Der Zakarian last year. Despite receiving several offers in January, Sakho chose not to join a new club at that time. Now, it seems that he is ready to embark on a new chapter in his career as the biggest-ever foreign import in Georgian football.
As Sakho prepares to make this move, football fans and experts will be keeping an eye on how he adapts to the Georgian league and the impact he can have on Torpedo Kutaisi. It will be interesting to see if his presence can attract other talented players to the club and potentially raise the profile of Georgian football. Only time will tell if this move will be a successful one for Sakho and for Torpedo Kutaisi.