Boudjellal: Cooper just plain pâté
Boudjellal, who has bought himself three European championships through his lavish spending, has been less than impressed with his most recent recruits – All Blacks Ma'a Nonu and Tom Taylor, as well as Wallaby Quade Cooper.
The biggest insult was reserved for Cooper, who was recruited to replace English legend and World Cup winner Jonny Wilkinson.
Boudjellal, who last week threatened to withdraw Toulon from the Top 14, did not hold back when asked how the Wallaby utility back was shaping up.
"It's difficult to go from foie gras to pâté," Boudjellal told the French publication Quinze Mondial.
That translated to having Wilkinson as a rich man's delicacy and Cooper as a poor man's standard fare.
"For now, Cooper is not what I was hoping for. But we have to also give him time.
"Right now if I say that I'm not happy with our stars, it's only because we expect a lot."
The controversial owner told reporters last week that Nonu, who joined the Top 14 club after winning his second World Cup title, was not yet a "lost bet", but had produced some "disappointing" performances for the club.
Taylor also did not escape the owner's sharp tongue.
"I have the impression that Tom Taylor, an All Black, trembles each time he has a penalty attempt," Boudjellal said.
The European Cup Champions currently sit second in the competition's Pool Five behind Wasps, while after a shocking start Toulon have climbed to fourth in the Top 14, two points behind leaders Racing 92.
