Mikael Silvestre to leave Rennes director of football after manager Christian Gourcuff changes his mind over Martin Odegaard loan deal falls through

MIKAEL SILVESTRE is set to leave Rennes in January after failing to secure a loan deal for Real Madrid Martin Odegaard.

It is unclear whether a deal for the Norwegian is the exact reason behind the former Manchester United and Arsenal defender’s departure.

But a failure to land the club’s biggest target seems to have been the straw that broke the camel’s back.

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Silvestre, 39, played at Old Trafford from 1999 to 2008 and is in his first football role post-retirement.

According to the 40-cap Les Bleus international reached the end of the road with Stade Rennais.

Manager Christian Gourcuff reportedly made a last-minute U-turn and declared he was not interested in Odegaard – despite them getting him in to visit Roazhon Park.

The 18-year-old has failed to impress at Real Madrid under manager Zinedine Zidane – but needs game time.

Silvestre had said in an interview recently: “I’m in charge of [talking] to president Ruello, I’m talking to Landry Chauvin, Christian Gourcuff, I’m in the locker room, I get news from the group, when there are messages for players, agents.

“With the squad, I work closely with Christian to have the same discourse.

“This is even more important given the size of the group, for the cohesion, for atmosphere.

“In spite of us, there is a separation between the administrative and the sportsman. I make the link between the two.”

He confessed delight in his job: “Yes, I blossom because there is no routine every day, new projects arise, problems to solve, I do it at my own pace.”