French striker Gignac in Mexico for shock move

French striker Andre-Pierre Gignac arrived in northern Mexico on Thursday to finalise a surprise move to Tigres of Monterrey after the end of his contract with Ligue 1 giants Marseille.

Shrugging off interest from major European clubs, the 29-year-old player flashed a thumbs-up and held a "100 percent Tigres" sign after landing at Monterrey airport, according to a photo on the team's Twitter account.

Dozens of Tigres fans waited for him all morning, bedecked in the team's gold and blue, some holding a banner featuring the Eiffel Tower and the French greeting "Bienvenue."

Gignac will undergo a medical on Thursday or Friday and, if all goes well, he will sign a contract and join the team for pre-season training on Sunday, a club official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Gignac has made 21 appearances for Euro 2016 hosts France, scoring five goals, but he was not called up by coach Didier Deschamps for the team's recent international friendlies.

The fiery striker, who scored 21 Ligue 1 goals in the season just finished, was due to "rest at a hotel" following his arrival in Monterrey, the Tigres official said.

Gignac's arrival has raised expectations among Tigres fans, whose team play in the semi-finals of South America's continental Copa Libertadores next month against Brazilian club Internacional.

"Now the Tigres will have good reinforcements and we will go for the title," said Gabriel Espinosa, a 19-year-old accounting student at a local university who was among the crowd welcoming Gignac.

Reports say the Frenchman will sign on a free transfer and agree a three-year deal worth around 4.5 million euros ($5.1m) a year with an option for a fourth season.

Gignac first made his mark during three seasons at Toulouse between 2007 and 2010, scoring 34 Ligue 1 goals, before moving to Marseille where he netted another 59 in 154 Ligue 1 appearances.

French club Lyon, Turkish giants Galatasaray and English teams Newcastle United and West Bromich Albion had all been in the frame to sign the striker.

But he is now expected to sign with Tigres following the medical and join the team for their pre-season in the Riviera Maya, on the Caribbean coast, on Sunday.
Source: AFP