A former Chelsea star has swapped Stamford Bridge for the Amazon rainforest in the most shocking move of the January transfer window.
Florent Malouda has completed an army initiation in his native country, French Guiana, and is passing on his wisdom to the next generation of soldiers.
The 44-year-old won six trophies in six seasons at Chelsea, including the Premier League in 2010 and the Champions League in 2012.
But he was forced to break up with the youth team before his final season after demanding a move – and then rejecting all offers for financial reasons.
In recent times, Malouda has befriended a cheetah in Dubai and helped run a football academy in Kazakhstan, but his plunge into army life only increases his status as one of the Premier League's cult personalities of the late 2000s and early 2010s.
Malouda worked with the civilian reserve of the 3rd Forest Infantry Regiment, taking river trips, making tents, swinging across wooden beams and sharing life lessons with younger colleagues.
The reserve is described by the French government as a program that “enables civilians (often recognized in their field) to make a voluntary contribution to promoting the values and missions of the military institution, without being military personnel themselves.”
Malouda wrote on Instagram: 'Thanks to @3e_rei for this moment of cohesion and for these values of team spirit in times of adversity. These are core values in top sport.'
The former Chelsea star was even rewarded with a medal for his services.
French Guiana, an overseas department of the French Republic, is not a FIFA country and therefore Malouda played 80 times for France during his international career.
In 2017, five years after his last cap for France, he tried to register for the French Guiana national team but was denied a dispensation.
Yet they drafted him as captain for a CONCACAF Gold Cup match against Honduras and after a 0–0 draw the match was forfeited due to his participation.
However, eight years later he is deemed eligible for the military.
“The #3REI welcomes Florent Malouda as an officer to its civilian reserve,” the organization wrote on Instagram.
“After an exceptional career in international football, he has a heart to share and pass on the values of dedication to the Guyanese youth, in addition to the Legionnaires of the 3rd Rei.”
Malouda made 706 appearances at club level during his career, scoring 119 goals in France, England, Turkey, India, Egypt and Luxembourg.
In his best years at Chelsea, he was a productive contributor on the wing, scoring 29 goals in two seasons between 2009 and 2011.
It's clear he still has a fondness for the Blues as he posted a photo of himself in their away kit three weeks ago.
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