Nicolas Anelka leaves West Brom training centre, rumoured to have retired

Nicolas Anelka of West Bormwich Albion (L)

Nicolas Anelka, French striker, has been given a compassionate leave after the striker left the West Bromwich Albion’s training ground amidst a training session.

Widespread reports suggested that Anelka had told the staff that he was quitting football altogether.

West Bromwich Albion reacted to the situation immediately and released a statement saying that the club has granted the French striker a leave of compassion.

Earlier, a tweet from Sky Sports’ official twitter account read:

Besides representing six different Premier League clubs including Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United, Anelka has also played for Real Madrid, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain in his career which spans over 18 years.

The 34-year-old striker has 69 international caps. On 19th of June 2010, French Football Federation dropped Anelka from the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa as he voiced his views against the then national coach, Raymond Domenech.

Subsequently he was banned for the next 18 international games for his act. Disappointed with the treatment meted out to him, he retired from international football.

Upon joining West Bromwich Albion, after being released by Shanghai Shenhua in this summer transfer window, he said he would like to end his career in England.

It remains to be seen whether Nicolas Anelka has hung up his boots altogether or this, in fact, is a compassionate leave.

Sky sources: West Brom’s Nicolas Anelka walks out of training and tells staff he is retiring #SSN

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) August 22, 2013