Charlie Cresswell almost rejected a move to Toulouse after seeing the French Ligue 1 side's obsolete training facilities, according to the club's sporting director.
Sporting director Viktor Bezhani said the English central defender had huge doubts about the gym and training pitches after arriving from a very well-structured club in Leeds United.
Bezhani said the player even mocked his office, asking how he could work in such conditions after previously working at Leicester City.
Club president Olivier Cloarec added that the club usually tries to avoid showing prospective signings the training ground because it is a major disadvantage for professional players who train daily, although their stadium and its average attendance of 25,000 remains a draw.
Toulouse have been using a prefabricated building from the last century for their gym and massage room, while the coaching staff work out of construction bungalows.
Cresswell hesitated for several days before signing in July 2024 to replace Logan Costa. He later impressed at the club and moved to Rennes on loan with an option to buy this summer.
New performance centre
Toulouse expect to complete a new training ground on the Ramier island before the end of 2026, replacing the former Daniel Faucher university restaurant. The club hopes to move into the facility in early 2027.
The project was announced by Damien Comolli in 2022. Construction began in January 2024 but paused for almost a year between September 2024 and the summer of 2025 following a drastic budget cut after the crisis over French football's television rights.
Cloarec said the new facility would change many things and serve as an additional asset when recruiting players.
Bezhani said Cresswell ultimately signed because he understood the dimension the club was going to take, and wanted facilities worthy of a major team.
