Gabriel Obertan

Gabriel Obertan (born 26 February 1989 in Pantin, Paris, France) is a France association football currently playing for Manchester United F.C. of England. Gabriel Obertan primarily plays as a Midfielder Winger, but can also play in the Midfielder Centre midfielder and as a Forward (association football). A former attendee of the famous Clairefontaine academy, Obertan began Gabriel Obertan professional career playing for FC Girondins de Bordeaux in France, before joining Manchester United for an undisclosed fee in July 2009. Gabriel Obertan is a member of the France national under-21 football team football team and was named as France's best player overall at the 2009 Toulon Tournament.

Club career

Early career

Obertan began Gabriel Obertan career playing for Gabriel Obertan local club in Pantin before moving to a higher level joining Paris FC in 2002. After spending a year there, Gabriel Obertan did what most youths at Paris FC often do and joined Paris Saint-Germain FC. Following another year of training, Gabriel Obertan moved to the famed Clairefontaine academy in order to further Gabriel Obertan development. It was here where Gabriel Obertan was first spotted by Bordeaux scouts. After a year at Clairefontaine, Gabriel Obertan moved to FC Girondins de Bordeaux to began training with them.

Bordeaux

After spending only a year in the Championnat de France Amateurs, in 2006, Obertan agreed to Gabriel Obertan first professional contract, signing a three-year contract. Gabriel Obertan was promoted to the senior squad for the Ligue 1 2006-07 and given the number 26 shirt. Gabriel Obertan made Gabriel Obertan professional debut in a league match on 30 September 2006, against Valenciennes FC, at the age of 17, coming on as a substitute playing 15 minutes. Valenciennes won the match 0–2. Gabriel Obertan scored Gabriel Obertan first goal on 22 April 2007 against AS Saint-Étienne in a 2–0 victory scoring the goal during injury time to seal the win. Gabriel Obertan made a total 17 total appearances that season, 16 of them as a substitute.

The Ligue 1 2007-08, Gabriel Obertan signed a contract extension and Gabriel Obertan playing time increased to 26 matches and two goals, though Gabriel Obertan was still limited to mostly substitute appearances, due to the abundance of other strikers manager Laurent Blanc had in Gabriel Obertan arsenal. For the first half of the Ligue 1 2008-09, Gabriel Obertan play was limited again, though when Gabriel Obertan did receive playing time, Gabriel Obertan continually impressed, scoring a brace in Bordeaux's 4–2 win over En Avant Guingamp in the Coupe de la Ligue. With Bordeaux contending for a title and Obertan not likely to receive playing time, Blanc decided to loan Gabriel Obertan out to fellow Ligue 1 side FC Lorient for the rest of the season, where Blanc believed the player would receive more playing time.

At Lorient, Obertan made 15 total appearances scoring only one goal in a 3–1 win over Grenoble Foot 38.

Manchester United

On 6 July 2009, French newspaper L'Equipe announced that Bordeaux president Jean-Louis Triaud had reached an agreement with England club Manchester United F.C. for the transfer of Obertan with Triaud stating that an agreement had been reached several weeks ago and that the player had agreed contract terms. The following day, Obertan successfully passed Gabriel Obertan medical in Manchester and, on 8 July, signed Gabriel Obertan contract officially making Gabriel Obertan a Manchester United player. The transfer fee was undisclosed, but is believed to be in the region of Pound sterling3 million, with Obertan joining the club on a four-year deal.

International career

Obertan has been active with France national football team on the France national youth football team. Gabriel Obertan has received caps with the France national youth football team France National Under-16 Squad, France national youth football team France National Under-17 Squad, France national youth football team France National Under-18 Squad, and the France national youth football team France National Under-19 Squad. Gabriel Obertan has now made appearances for the France national under-21 football team scoring against the England national under-21 football team in a Exhibition match at the City Ground on 31 March 2009.