Anelka delighted to be back in England with Bolton

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

LONDON, Aug 30 (Reuters) French striker Nicolas Anelka said today that the lure of English football and its supporters were behind his return to the Premier League with Bolton Wanderers.

Anelka, who left Fenerbahce on a four-year deal last week, was presented as Bolton's new strike threat after previous spells with Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City.

''I like the way the game is -- they play quick -- the fans, I like everything about England,'' he told Sky Sports News.

''That's why, when I wanted to leave Fenerbahce, I said I wanted to come back to England,'' said the Frenchman who first played in England almost a decade ago as a 17-year-old with Arsenal.

Asked about the negative press which has often followed the sometimes moody Anelka, now 27, said: ''Nobody knows me.

''When I was at Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester (City) I did good things. I just want to play football. I don't know why people say bad things about me, I just to have to speak on the pitch.'' Bolton manager Sam Allardyce will be building the team around a player who is a club record signing at 8.0 million pounds (15.20 million dollar).

''Whatever suits the team and whatever suits Nicolas is key to the way forward now,'' Allardyce said.

''We'll play through Nicolas as much as we possibly can - the main aim is for us to produce as many chances for him to show his talents and particularly his goalscoring prowess.'' Looking back to last weekend's 2-0 defeat at Charlton Athletic, Allardyce said: ''We know we create lots of opportunities in the Premiership.

''We did that last week and I'm convinced that if he'd played in that game we'd have won it comfortably.'' Allardyce said he was ambitious for Bolton and wanted to bid for domestic silverware and challenge for a Champions League place.

''That's something I'm ambitious for and more importantly, that's something Nicolas is ambitious for,'' he said.

''This is the biggest transfer I've done, the biggest transfer the club's ever done. That does throw a little bit of pressure on Nic -- but he's used to that. He's played on bigger stages than this.'' With no Premier League football being played this weekend due to international fixtures, Anelka should make his Bolton debut at home to promoted Watford on September 9.

Reuters PDS VV2126

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