Martin Braithwaite has expressed his desire to leave Middlesbrough, and join Bordeaux on a permanent deal. Speaking to Gold FM, a local radio station in Bordeaux, Braithwaite confirmed that the French club was the preference if given a choice between them and the side from Teesside.
Middlesbrough signed Martin Braithwaite from Ligue 1 side Toulouse in the summer, and was an instant hit with fans. The forward scored on his Riverside debut, a 2-1 against Bundesliga outfit Augsburg in a pre-season friendly.
He cost the club £8 million and looked to bolster Boro’s attacking options. The club had also signed the likes of Britt Assombalonga and Ashley Fletcher. As well as having Rudy Gestede and Patrick Bamford already in their arsenal.
But it wasn’t plain sailing for the Danish international in his time on Teesside. He managed six goals in 21 appearances, and was often deployed as a number 10 or on the left-wing under the previous manager, Garry Monk. His natural position is as a centre-forward, but competition meant he wasn’t given this role often enough.
The move to Bordeaux in the January transfer window came as a huge surprise for some, and now Braithwaite has claimed that he sees his future back in Ligue 1, as opposed to in England.
He said, “I want to stay here, because I can see there are good players, in a very good club. So I see myself carrying on, because I feel very good here, well integrated, but it’s easy because everyone is so nice”.
Since he returned to France, Braithwaite is yet to score a goal in six appearances, and he has only started three games since January.
It is understood that Bordeaux have an option to buy following the loan deal. The figure is said to be in the region of £9 million, which would be a profit for Middlesbrough if they do decide to sell.
