PARIS, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Ligue 1 strugglers Monaco Saturday announced the arrival of William Vainqueur from Turkish club Antalyaspor as the defensive midfielder has been loaned until the end of the season.
Vainqueur has been Monaco's target during this winter transfer window. However, he had failed to pass the club's medical test due to his calf injury, and Monaco had initially chosen to give up on his arrival, while choosing to review their position faced with the motivation and strong marks demonstrated by the player.
"My first feeling was disappointment when I knew I was not ready to play for Monaco immediately. But I really wanted to wear Monegasque colors so I spontaneously proposed to the club to make every effort to make the move happen," said Vainqueur after his signing.
Vainqueur, 30, trained at Nantes and made his debut in the French top flight in 2006. After spending six seasons with the club, he played for Standard de Liege, Dynamo Moscow, Roma and Marseille, featuring in more than 30 European matches. The French midfielder had been at Antalyaspor since September 2017.
Vainqueur was the latest recruit of Monaco, currently sitting second from bottom in the league, after defenders Naldo and Fode Ballo-Toure, and Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas.
"It is a great joy to know that I am going to be part of this project with a high quality workforce, I will do my best to help the club achieve its goals for this second half of the season," he added.
"As a result of this setback, however, William showed a determination and a willingness to get involved that led us to reconsider the situation.
"In this difficult sporting period, we need good players, but also real men to bounce back. The values he has displayed have definitely convinced us to have him join us to help the group fulfill the goal," Vadim Vasilyev, Vice President of Monaco, pointed out.
