The restart, transfer window, Coupe de France, and second half of the season, OGC Nice resumed training this Saturday, a week away from their Coupe de France round of 32 match against Toulouse (05/01).
After a short week of rest, 17 players from Nice finally returned to training this Saturday afternoon. No Mario Balotelli, who the Italian press has announced is leaving, nor the three South Americans from the team (Benitez, Dante, Danilo) who are enjoying a few extra days of rest until January 2nd.
Racine Coly and Christophe Herelle are also excused, while Lees-Melou (ankle sprain), Makengo, Saint-Maximin, and Cardinale remained under medical care. Note the return of Michael Le Bihan and the addition of four young players to the professional squad (Pelemard, Mahou, Sylvestre, and Dramé).
At the end of the training, Patrick Vieira held the traditional press conference, confirming that they need to “give Mario Balotelli time to think about his future” (…) assuring that his potential departure wouldn’t hinder the young eagles’ winter transfer window. “Julien Fournier and Jean-Pierre Rivère are in charge; I give them my opinion, and they see if it’s possible or not (…) We will not take players just for the sake of buying. We are looking for a real contribution to the team, the decisive player in the last thirty meters. If we don’t find one, we will continue with the same squad; some players will gain momentum over this second part of the season, I have no worries.”
Note that the team hasn’t passed a Coupe de France round of 32 in four years “The club’s objective is certainly to advance this round and go as far as possible in this competition,” concluded a smiling Patrick Vieira.
