sportbible logo

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

French Team Sign Striker Because President's Son Told Him He Was 'Always Free' On Football Manager

French Team Sign Striker Because President's Son Told Him He Was 'Always Free' On Football Manager

You can always count on FM...

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

A team playing in the French fourth tier used the best possible tool to sign a new striker - that being the beloved Football Manager game that has ruined relationships and badly hampered exam preparation.

Bergerac Périgord of the French National 2 Group wanted a new frontman but were having a bit of difficulty. However, the president's youngest son is an avid FM player and told his dad one particular player was on the market.

"My youngest son is a big fan of Football Manager and he kept telling me that Nicolas Maurice-Belay was always free," Christophe Fauvel revealed, as per Foot Amateur.

The club then spoke with his agent and swiftly signed him on a contract until the end of the season. With over 300 Ligue One appearances and experience playing for the likes of Monaco, Sochaux and Bordeaux, it represents a real coup for Perigord.

It's the latest instance of FM, with its comprehensive database and incredible realism, being useful in the actual game of football.

In an interview with Dagbladet in 2013, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer revealed he played when he was a player at Manchester United and it helped him develop as a manager, saying: "When I played for Man U I relaxed by playing Football Manager.

"It's a fantastic game, I have learned a lot about football. I have learned a lot about players, especially young talent.

"It resembles real life, when it comes to who will be good players. They have done incredible research.

"...I remember thinking the same then, that I do as a manager, you want to give young guns the chance, see them develop.

"You could push a few buttons and get extra millions to buy a player. I never enjoyed that. I would rather win in spite of, than because of.

"Many of my players play FIFA and Football Manager. I think it helps them to understand football better."

Manchester City skipper Vincent Kompany and Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele are just two of the other household names who love a bit of FM.

Plus, apparently wedding DJ's are obsessed with it:

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: gaming news, Bordeaux, GAMING, Football Manager, Ligue One, FM 2019, Monaco, FM, Football Manager 2009, France