Victor Wanyama’s CF Montreal future in doubt as Sporting Director quits after fallout with club owner

Victor Wanyama’s CF Montreal future in doubt as Sporting Director quits after fallout with club owner

Joel Omotto 14:30 - 09.05.2024

Victor Wanyama could be playing his last season at CF Montreal following the departure of the Sporting Director who was instrumental to his arrival and stay at the MLS club.

Former Harambee Stars captain could be playing his final season at CF Montreal following the departure of Sporting Director Olivier Renard who has been key to his stay at the MLS club.

As per Canadian Soccer Daily, Renard has left his position as vice-president and CEO of sports although the club is yet to make it official.

The reports claim the 44-year-old Belgian is leaving after a disagreement with club owner Joey Saputo over the future of key midfielder and season MVP Mathieu Choiniere who has requested to leave the club after a contract dispute.

Renard and his bosses could not reportedly agree on the right contract offer for the 25-year-old before he publicly proclaimed he wanted out and according to Jean-Francois Teotonio of La Presse, that was the final straw for the Sporting Director.

Renard joined the club in September 2019 as technical director before being promoted to vice-president and chief sporting officer in June 2022 by which time he had put together an exciting squad of experienced and young players.

Among the experienced players he signed was Kenyan international Wanyama, who joined in March 2020 from Tottenham Hotspur, and Renard was instrumental in handing the former Southampton midfielder a new two-year contract in January 2023.

"We are glad to have concluded a new deal with Victor and that he remains with us," Renard said after offering Wanyama the new deal.

"During the last three seasons, he has been an important player on the field and in the locker room. His personality, his experience and his qualities as a player will notably help us with the stability of the group for the season to come."

With Renard gone and Wanyama in the final year of his deal, it will be down to whoever replaces him to decide whether he wants to keep the midfielder at the club or release him at the end of the 2024 season.

Wanyama is in a vulnerable position on this as he has become a peripheral member of the squad with coach Laurent Courtois rarely selecting him this season just like his predecessor Hernan Losada, who overlooked him for large parts of the second past of the 2023 campaign.

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