Boumsong finds home

"Unfortunately, that's maybe the way my career will go. I don't think it's fair but I've learned how to deal with it ... I was the target of the English press when I was playing for Newcastle last season ... It was relentless and stupid. All right, I'm no Beckenbauer but with time I've figured out what I can do and what I can't." - Jean-Alain Boumsong

Right, so everyone has had a good pop at Boumsong in their time - not least of all us at Secawan Bola. And it's nice to see the guy own up to the likelihood that he will never be world class. And perhaps swapping the black and white stripes of Tyneside for that of Serie B's bottom feeder Juventus was always the kind of move that suited Jean-Alain best.

A temporary stint at a big club defending day in day out against pallid opposition ... at Juve, Boumsong may have finally found a club that befits his high profile yet provides his error-prone ways little margin for slip-ups. Or is he really that bad?

Perhaps English football was never his thing. Perhaps he should have stayed in Auxere until a move to the slower-paced Serie A beckoned. Perhaps Philippe Mexes, his partner while in France, was smart to turn down Arsenal and Liverpool and opt for Roma instead. Now, here he is. Boumsong, two seasons of British football later, has warded off being everyone's nightmare defender, survived the harshest ridicule perhaps because Titus Bramble spent more time on the bench, and is a less fun target anyway.

You have to admire his humility - and perhaps in this setup, France's third choice centreback has found his spiritual home. Let's hope Juve get promoted. The world needs Boumsong in top flight action once more.

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