Olivier Giroud revealed what Frank Lampard promised him in order to keep him at Stamford Bridge as the Frenchman was keen to leave earlier this year.
The 33-year-old player admitted that he almost left the Blues in the January transfer window due to lack of playtime as he was behind Tammy Abraham and Michy Batshuayi in the pecking order.
Giroud was willing to leave in order to have more game minutes and secure a place in the France team for Euro 2020, which is scheduled for 2021.
However, Lampard managed to convince him to stay at Chelsea, promising that he will get picked to play more often.
The Chelsea forward said on the club's official website: “I was supposed to leave in the January transfer window because I wasn’t playing much and I needed more game time to make the France squad for Euro 2020.
“I very nearly left the club but I really think that God wanted me to stay at Chelsea.
“The manager told me that he couldn’t let me leave because he didn’t have anyone to replace me.
“Everyone knows what happened so I won’t go back over it but the coach spoke to me privately and told me that he’d give more game
“He kept his word and what then mattered to me was proving to him that he could count on me when I was called upon.”
Olivier Giroud took the chance to sign a new deal with Chelsea and he extended his stay with yet another year.
The Frenchman was due to leave the Blues on a free transfer this summer as his contract was set to expire at the end of June 2020.
