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Yoann Gourcuff signs new two-year deal with Rennes

Former France midfielder Yoann Gourcuff has signed a new two-year contract with Rennes, the club have announced.

The 29-year-old returned to his boyhood club last season in a bid to reinvigorate a career derailed by injuries. He made 12 appearances in Ligue 1, scoring twice in a 5-2 win over Marseille.

Gourcuff told the club's official website: "I am very happy and very enthusiastic.

"There is a project and a way of playing at the club which I hope can allow us to be on the same wavelength and create a strong team which is good to watch."

Gourcuff began his professional career with Rennes in the 2003-04 season and his performances after moving on to first AC Milan and then Bordeaux established him as a mainstay of the France team.

After moving on to Lyon, though, he was plagued by injuries, costing him much of his prime and limiting him to 31 caps and four goals for his country.

He said of his current fitness level: "Preseason is difficult. There is a lot of training and you have to always be moving, it requires you to be in good physical shape.

"There is a bit of fatigue but it's normal. You have to find the right level [of training].

"For now, it is going well. I need to be training regularly to recover a good [fitness] level."