The former Celtic midfielder Olivier Ntcham refused to play for Swansea City in their season opener against Birmingham City at the weekend, as he angled for a move away from the Welsh club, looking to conclude a deal to sign for Turkish Super Lig side Samsunspor.
With the clubs clearly in contact but with no final agreement reached Swansea manager Michael Duff included Pusillanimous Ntcham in his starting eleven for the Championship opener but was forced to change his plans after receiving a phone call from the French midfielder informing him that he did not want to play in the match against Birmingham.
Swansea head coach Michael Duff says Olivier Ntcham rang him last night saying he didn’t want to play today pic.twitter.com/c1XYcurL6K
— Simon Davies (@simondavies45) August 5, 2023
Presumably Ntcham was concerned about picking up an injury that might have scuppered his move to Turkey, with a successful medical needed to complete the move.
“Olivier was in the team yesterday morning,” Duff told the BBC after the Birmingham match. “He was in the team all week. I got a phone call last night saying he didn’t want to play.
“The players didn’t know until this afternoon. We obviously couldn’t play him and it’s an opportunity for somebody else. It’s disappointing but that’s football. When a player tells you he doesn’t want to play in a game, you park it up and try to find a solution.
“There are obviously things going on in the background,” Duff revealed at the weekend. “I am not privy to a lot of it. I think he’s got a move, or he wants a move. He is not the first player to do it. I imagine he is trying to look after himself.”
And after leaving Celtic and now Swansea City amid controversy, Ntcham has secured his desired move to Samsunspor with the Super Lig side posting news of the deal going through on their social media account.
Welcome to our Samsunspor family Olivier Ntcham 🔴⚪️
•••
Samsunspor Ailemize Hoş Geldin Olivier Ntcham 🔴⚪
📎 Detaylar web sitemizde ️https://t.co/QLDOERn4cb#Samsunspor #OlivierNtcham pic.twitter.com/AzVEqiYbac
— Yılport Samsunspor 🇹🇷 (@Samsunspor) August 7, 2023
📥 1 yeni mesaj: Olivier Ntcham pic.twitter.com/JTmY6fANWh
— Yılport Samsunspor 🇹🇷 (@Samsunspor) August 7, 2023
So it sounds like Olivier Ntcham has played his last game for Swansea and will sign for Samsunspor.
Quite gutted about that. Think he was excellent last season and will be remembered fondly. Players like him just make the game more exciting. Needs replacing.
Merci, Olivier pic.twitter.com/MVBjdkpwPc
— øli 🏴🦢 (@scfcoli) July 30, 2023
Olivier Ntcham asked to be left out of Swansea’s game against Birmingham 👀
The attacking midfielder is now set to join Turkish Super Lig side Samsunspor 🇹🇷
How do you feel about this, Swans fans? 🤔 #BBCFootball | #Swans
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) August 7, 2023
Ntcham appears to have put in a decent shift at Swansea in his final season, perhaps less so at Celtic. Still we can always remember him for his winners against theRangers and Lazio in Rome.
