Schalke allow Bastos to leave
Gelsenkirchen - Michel Bastos has left FC Schalke 04 and returned to Olympique Lyonnais after the French club received another offer for the midfielder.
Option not taken
As part of the 29-year-old’s loan agreement with the Royal Blues, the Brazilian could return to Lyon should another club make an approach to sign him permanently.
Schalke had first refusal to make his signing permanent within a five-day period after Lyon received any offer, but the Bundesliga club have chosen not to exert that option.
“We would have had to buy the player, but we didn’t want that,” said Schalke’s sporting director Horst Heldt. “With this decision, we have ultimately fulfilled Bastos’ wish.”
Bastos joined Schalke in an 18-month loan deal in January and played 14 times last season, scoring four goals. He also made two UEFA Champions League appearances under Jens Keller.