France outcast Anelka signs new contract with Chelsea

French striker Nicolas Anelka has signed a one-year contract extension with Chelsea less than a week after being controversially sent home from the World Cup. The 31-year-old was sent home in disgrace for insulting French coach Raymond Domenech but the English Premier League winners have moved quickly to keep him at the club until 2012.

Reuters

“When I first came to Chelsea I wanted to stay much longer than what I did in the past with other clubs,” Anelka told the club’s official website.

“It is a big club, you play with big players and I like this club - I like London. There is no need to move anymore and so I am very glad to sign a new contract.”

Anelka clashed with Domenech after being substituted at half-time in France’s 2-0 loss to Mexico last Thursday.

French Football Federation president Jean-Pierre Escalettes then ordered that he should be sent home from South Africa after refusing to apologise.

That led to more trouble in the French camp as on Sunday the rest of the squad boycotted training in protest at the decision to dismiss the ex-Paris Saint-Germain forward.

The French were then eliminated from the competition after losing 2-1 to hosts South Africa on Tuesday.

Anelka is currently on holiday but will be hoping for another successful season at club level after recently helping Chelsea win a league and cup double.

The former Arsenal, Real Madrid and Liverpool player has scored 42 goals in 123 games for Chelsea since joining from Bolton in January 2008.