Barthez resumes careeer at struggling Nantes

PARIS, Dec 17 (Reuters) Former France goalkeeper Fabien Barthez today confirmed he had decided to come out of retirement to help Ligue 1 strugglers Nantes in their bid to escape relegation.

''If they had called me two months ago, I would probably have said no,'' Barthez, who had announced his retirement in October, told French television channel TF1.

''Some 15 clubs called me but I was not ready. Now I am. Nantes are a great club and their president found the right words.'' A prominent member of France's 1998 World Cup-winning side and the team who reached the final in Germany this year, the 35-yea-old Barthez had been without a club since leaving Olympique Marseille at the end of last season.

Nantes president Rudi Roussillon said Barthez would sign an 18-month contract and would start playing for the club after the winter break.

Eight-times French champions Nantes are second from bottom in Ligue 1. They drew 0-0 with Girondins Bordeaux on Saturday.

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