The former Marseille defender is on trial at Sunderland.
September 5, 2018
By Mathew Nash
Sunderland are taking a look at Armenian international Gael Andonian. The former Marseille man is a free agent and is training with the club’s under-23 side with a view to earning a contract with the Black Cats.
The 23-year-old featured in the under-23 clash with West Brom recently and will remain with the club over the international break, after losing his place in the Armenia squad.
Andonian may represent Armenia, but he was born and raised in the city of Marseille. He joined the club at aged nine and only left the club this summer.
YEREVAN, ARMENIA – MARCH 26: Gael Andonian, Gor Malakyan and Henrikh Mkhitaryan of Armenia in action against Tanat Nuserbayev (L) of Kazakhstan during the FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifying Round football match between Armenia and Kazakhstan at Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium in Yerevan, Armenia on March 26, 2017. (Photo by Vahram Baghdasaryan /Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
However, in all that time, he played just one league match for the club.
The centre-back, who has 22 caps for Armenia, came on in the last 10 minutes of a 2-1 win over RC Lens in 2014. The player he replaced was Florian Thauvin, as Marseille sought to see out their narrow victory.
Of course, Thauvin is a known name in the North-East. The French winger was a £13 million flop for Sunderland’s biggest rivals Newcastle United. He has since had the last laugh, winning the World Cup with France this summer.
Andonian will now hope he can find a way to earn a contract on Wearside but will hope for a more successful experience then his old team-mate did on the Tyne.