Strasbourg's Habib Beye has turned down an offer to join Middlesbrough after a trial at The Riverside.

The 23-year-old defender, who spent four days with the Teesside club last week, has opted to stay in France.

"I don't want to bury myself there," he told Les Dernieres Nouvelles d'Alsace.

"I'd rather stay with Strasbourg and play in Europe rather than go to Middlesbrough."

Strasbourg were relegated to the Second Division last season after a miserable campaign in the top flight.

But their French Cup win over Amiens in May earned them a ticket into the Uefa Cup.