A League winner's medal and the prospect of Champions League football won't be enough to keep Fernando Menegazzo at Bordeaux next season. The Brazil international was a key figure in Laurent Blanc's successful bid to break Lyon's stranglehold on the French championship last term, but is now planning his next move while on his summer break back home.
"I am having my holidays, I have just arrived back in Brazil and I want a break," said Menegazzo. "There are, however, people working on my behalf back in Europe to find out a little more about where I could play next season.
"I must admit I will probably leave Bordeaux after last season's events.
"My early season was somewhat complicated, especially with our change of playing system and also because I had the possibility of going to another club. I thought about it a lot."
That other club was Palermo, with Menegazzo having had a previous spell in Sicily at Catania, where he played on-loan during his time on the books of Siena.
"I had a beautiful time in Catania, the fans made me feel very welcome," added the midfielder. "Places such as Catania and Palermo are very hot environments, the people in these cities are very passionate about football and a professional player likes to play in such places where supporters are always pushing the team.
"Now, I am thinking about my next move. Although I am happy in Bordeaux, we've just won the title, but I need to think about things.
"There's nothing at the moment. I'll listen to anyone who has an interest in me and then evaluate."
Following four years with Bordeaux, Genoa and Parma have been linked with bringing Menegazzo back to Italy. But the experienced midfielder admits after Italy and France, he fancies experiencing football in Spain.
"If I have an opportunity to go there, I'd go immediately because it is a championship that suits me, and it looks a bit like that of Brazil," said Menegazzo.
"In addition, in Spain, there is bullfighting, which is one of my passions."
Indeed, Menegazzo admits he's doesn't allow his life to be dominated by football and is quick to recommend young players with ambition not to ignore their education.
Having come through the ranks at Juventude in Brazil, Menegazzo saw first-hand how ruthless the game can be.
"The problem with football, is that you need a lot of luck to be successful," he says.
"You must be there at the right time, right place.
"In Brazil, I'd often see hundreds of children come in for days of trials and leave disappointed because they were not kept on. Football is just lottery. With studies, this is less the case.
"I hope to eventually have a son, though he's unlikely to see me play. Ideally, I wouldn't want him to play professionally. However, if I have a son and he absolutely wants to make it in football, it will be his choice, I could not do much to dissuade him."
Now 28, Menegazzo admits his desire to prove critics wrong has been a driving force in his career. He never felt he was given a fair chance at former club Siena and if he is to be lured back to Serie A this summer, Menegazzo can't hide that a major factor would be to prove his old coaches wrong.
"Proving people wrong would bring me back to Italy," concedes Menegazzo. "Definitely. I was never given a fair chance at Siena and when I was there the club never wanted to compete for more than survival."
With a French championship now under his belt, Menegazzo can rightfully feel he's proved his Siena critics wrong.
