Crystal Palace flop Steve Mandanda refusing to report for pre-season training after being ‘disrespected’ by Eagles
French flop joined with high expectations last summer but quickly lost his place in starting XI to Wayne Hennessey
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FRENCH flop Steve Mandanda is refusing to return to Crystal Palace for pre-season training under new boss Frank de Boer.
Mandanda claims he has been “disrespected” by Palace after the £90,000-a-week keeper lost his first team place to Wayne Hennessey.
The former France No1 is trying to force a deal through to return to Marseille after just one disastrous season at Selhurst Park.
Palace are holding out for £4m after Mandanda, 32, told the Eagles he will not come back for the start of pre-season training under their new Dutch boss.
He made just nine appearances for Palace following his free transfer move from Marseille last summer.
After recovering from an injury that ruled him out of first team contention he believed he was entitled to walk straight back into the Palace side.
Instead former Palace chief Sam Allardyce kept faith with Hennessey as they put together a run that kept them in the Premier League.
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Mandanda is furious with Palace over his treatment and has told the club it is disrespectful to a player of his status.
Marseille, under new ownership, want Mandanda back at the club but are refusing to match Palace’s £4m valuation.