goal was lacking. He scored only 6 goals in 34 games and the club finished in the lower half of the table. After this second season, he had a more productive 2006–07 season, scoring six goals and six assists in the first half of the season. He also received two more red cards and missed a total of four games in 19 days. He partnered the Brazilian Ilan up front. Piquionne was under contract with Saint-Étienne until June 2009. However, following his excellent performance, many European clubs were on alert, including Lyon, who allegedly promised to triple his salary at that time. An offer of €5.5 million by the club Lyon bid to sign him was considered "ridiculous" by Bernard Caiazzo. Caiazzo refused to let the player depart to a local rival. Piquionne then declared that he was being "treated like a slave" by Caiazzo. Eventually, Lyon signed Milan Baroš instead, but after all that was said, Piquionne said that he was ready to retire if the club refused to transfer him. His time at Saint-Étienne ended with an altercation with a supporter who criticised him for attending a Lyon match. Piquionne assaulted him, leaving him with a broken nose. Piquionne was sentenced to a €1,500 and also ordered to pay the same to the victim. Despite being disliked by fans, coach Ivan Hašek admitted that his team missed the striker. Monaco and Lyon On 31 January 2007, Piquionne moved to Monaco on loan. The contract included an option to purchase, valued at €6 million. On 3 February 2007, he played his first Ligue 1 match for Monaco, against Auxerre. At the end of the season, Monaco remained in Ligue 1 and despite his disappointing performances, they exercised their buyout clause. On 10 November 2007, he played his 200th match in Ligue 1, against Strasbourg at the Stade Louis-II (3-0). On 29 July 2008, after a friendly match at Annecy, Piquionne signed a four-year deal for €4.5 million with Lyon. He wore the number 39 shirt and scored his first goal in the UEFA Champions League against Fiorentina. Portsmouth On 5 August 2009, it was confirmed that Piquionne would join English Premier League club Portsmouth on a season-long loan. On his Pompey debut, against Rangers at Fratton Park in a friendly, he scored two goals in a 2–0 win. Piquionne made his first Premier League start for Portsmouth on 15