Gallas hopes Blues will grant his birthday wish

Disgruntled Chelsea defender William Gallas said on Wednesday he still wanted to leave the English Premiership champions.

Gallas, who turned 29 on Thursday and celebrated it with a goal in France's 2-1 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday, said he hoped the transfer would be resolved soon.

“I still want to leave. I hope that it will be settled soon, but that doesn't stop me from still playing for them while it is being settled,” said Gallas, whose main reason for wanting to leave is that he is not played in his preferred central defender role.

Gallas, who has been linked with Premiership rivals Arsenal and Italian giants AC Milan, said he was getting tired of the affair which has been mainly because Chelsea are refusing to sell him and he can stay in the reserves for the remaining year of his contract.

Gallas provoked a wider rift earlier this month when he failed to arrive on time for their tour of the US and was told not to bother turning up at all. – AFP