Gourcuff needs to stay with Bordeaux

The star of the French Ligue 1 for the first half of the season is unquestionably Yoann Gourcuff. At the age of 22 there is no reason to believe that his best years remain ahead of him and for this reason we should see an interesting negotiation begin between the team that owns his rights - AC Milan - and the team he is currently playing for - Bordeaux.

His story is already well know. Son of a coach, had an early rise in French football which found him the new crown jewel of French football and at the tender age of 20 found himself heading to one of Europe's biggest clubs - AC Milan. In hindsight the move was too early or the wrong club. With an already loaded midfield, including the likes of Pirlo, Kaka, Gattuso, and Seedorf, Gourcuff found himself much more on the reserves bench than on the pitch which promoted his loan to Bordeaux. Where he has been allowed to shine, both for domestic and national side, since Domenech has apparently decided that he is the key to the France midfield...an assessment I agree with.

Of course with this new found glory, AC Milan appear poised to want their player back...but will Bordeaux allow this and would this be best for the player? I would say no on both accounts.

Bordeaux need to hold on to the young Frenchman, even if it is only for a few seasons. Les Girondins must look to develop a team around the playmaker, much like they did around another French prodigy - Zizou. In Gourcuff they have the perfect counter in the midfield to Diarra who provides the defensive cover. In Bellion and Cavenaghi, Bordeaux have some solid strikers. And I think that at some point soon we will see the Yoan Gouffran that was the rage of the Ligue 1 while at Caen, if that happens the Bordeaux midfield could be extremely exciting and dangerous. With Gourcuff, Bordeaux have a legitimate chance at silverware in France, without him they are still behind the Lyon.

I think that Gourcuff needs to stay as well. Not sure that if he goes back to Milan he will find the going any easier than when he left. With AC Milan taking on Beckham on loan, and now hinting that they might want to keep him. When Pirlo comes back, you will have a clogged midfield once again. Even if AC Milan sell Kaka to Manchester City, the midfield will have an abundance of players. I think that Gourcuff would benefit from playing at least 1-2 more seasons at Bordeaux, especially under Lauren Blanc. If he has any questions about a move back to Milan, he only need to look as far as his Milan teammate - Flamini. Where has he gone since moving to the Italian giant?

If Gourcuff stays at Bordeaux and looks to lead France at the World Cup in 2010, he will come of that tournament a much more prized commodity. Both he, Bordeaux and Les Bleus should look to give the player as much opportunity to shine and to develop, in what should prove to be a win - win situation.