Former Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Everton, Manchester United, Sunderland, Rangers, Bolton, Manchester City, Liverpool and Fulham players feature.
This is a team of players who were all, and some still are, available for nothing this summer. But the twist with this free agent XI … every single player is a French international.
GK: Mickael Landreau – 11 caps
Asked to be released by Lille in January he subsequently signed a six-month deal with Bastia.
If you were quick you might have snapped him up but he signed a two-year contract extension with the Corsican club this summer.
DF: Antony Reveillere – 19 caps
Released by Lyon at the end of the season after a contract wrangle this experienced full-back is still available for nothing.
DF: Eric Abidal – 61 caps
Barcelona put sentiment to one side and didn’t renew the contract of this fan favourite. He signed for Monaco a week ago.
DF: Sebastian Squillaci – 21 caps
Arsenal finally ditched the former Sevilla defender this summer and he is expected to return to France.
DF: William Gallas – 84 caps
After some glaring mistakes last season it was clear that the former Chelsea and Arsenal players legs were going away from him.
Still available if anyone wants him.
MF: Jerome Rothen – 13 caps
Another player who demanded a release from his contract after an argument with the head coach at Bastia.
He was only available briefly however; as SM Caen snapped him up a week later.
MF: Florent Malouda – 80 caps
Treated badly by Chelsea last season but received plaudits for his class throughout the campaign.
Recently linked with West Brom and Olympiakos but is still searching for a new club.
MF: Mathieu Flamini – 3 caps
Contract talks failed to find an agreement at AC Milan so for the second summer in a row the midfielder is available for nothing.
He has talked up a return to England.
MF: Sidney Govou – 49 caps
Released by Evian Thonon in June he is still searching for a new club.
FW: Louis Saha – 20 caps
His brief stint with Lazio ended without a goal and the Premier League favourite is currently wanted by Nice in his homeland.
FW: Nicolas Anelka – 69 caps
Signed for West Brom this summer after a short-term stint with Juventus came to an end. The Baggies are his sixth Premier League club.
Combined number of caps: 430
While the average age of this team is certainly high an incredibly high tally of seven featured in the France squad for their ill-fated 2010 World Cup campaign just three summers ago; and it would have been eight had I not chosen to go with Saha over Djibril Cisse who was released by QPR this summer.
Would you have any of these players in your team?
image: © brieuc_s
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