10 things you need to know about Tottenham target Mathieu Chalme

By Mirror Football in Football Spy

Published 18:03 19/01/10

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Fiery French full-back Mathieu Chalme is reported to be on Harry Redknapp's wish list this transfer window. MirrorFootball's Rob Hicks has unearthed the facts you need to know about Bordeaux's hot property.

1) Mathieu Chalme was born on October 7, 1980, in Bruges, Gironde, France.

2) At 1.75metres (5ft 9ins), he's six inches shorter than current Spurs right back Vedran Corluka.

3) Chalme's heroes include kung-fu specialist Eric Cantona and Glasgow kiss exponent Zinedine Zidane, but as a young Bordeaux fan he also idolised future Manchester City midfielder Ali Benarbia.

4) Chalme started his career at Bordeaux, but failed to break into the first team. He then went on to join Lille, spending five years there before returning to the Stade Chaban-Delmas in 2007.

5) Chalme describes his first sexual experience as "not great, not terrible. It is still a good memory because it was my first time precisely, but hey, this was not the best hug of my life shall we say."

6) Chalme was one of the players involved in the controversial Champions League match between Lille and Manchester United in February, 2007. Lille's fans and players were furious when Ryan Giggs scored a quickly taken free-kick whilst the Lille goalie was still lining up his wall.

Immediately after the restart, the ball was kicked into touch with the Lille players appearing to leave the pitch in protest. Missiles were soon thrown on to the turf, one striking Gary Neville. As Neville left the pitch he was struck again with an object which appeared to have been thrown from the Lille dugout.

7) This isn't the first time Chalme has been linked with an English club. Four years ago, there was talk linking him with a move to West Ham. Chalme then rejoined Bordeaux to replace Julien Faubert, who himself was on his way to The Hammers.

8) Chalme has spent his entire career on French soil but as a youngster had a trial with Grimsby Town.

9) Not one to shy away from the big games, Chalme relishes playing against world class opposition. When asked if he would feel apprehensive playing against players of star quality such as Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben in his up and coming Champions League game against Bayern Munich, his reply was quite the opposite: "No, not at all. It is the wrong approach to fear these players before the match. This is an opportunity to assess myself against them, to see if I am able to respond against the best in their position."

10) Chalme would fit right into English football. Asked to name his favourite drink, he replied: "Ah, good beer from time to time, it’s fun!"

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