As we announced a few days ago, OGC Nice presented its new right-wing forward yesterday, Elliot Grandin. The former Marseille player will try to bring some “punch” to a Nice attack that severely lacks confidence.
After signing last Saturday, Elliot Grandin, the new recruit for OGC Nice, attended the traditional press presentation yesterday. He is the second winter reinforcement following the arrival of former Sochaux player Kevin Anin a few weeks ago. “Renรฉ (Marsiglia) insisted on getting an offensive reinforcement on the right side. We needed a player who could step in immediately, and Elliot Grandin quickly impressed us,” explained Jean Pierre Rivรจre, president of the club from the French Riviera. Despite difficult negotiations with the English club Blackpool (currently playing in the English Division 2), Nice managed to secure the loan with a purchase option for the 24-year-old former U21 international, and this just two days before the end of the winter transfer window.
“Show that I’ve changed”
The former player thus returns to the French league after having played for Caen, Marseille, and Grenoble. “Since I left abroad it hasn’t been easy and not everything went very well. It remains a good life experience as a player, but it’s true that I’m very happy to return to the French league, it was my priority and I really felt that Nice wanted me,” confessed the forward who will wear the number 12 for the club.
The ex-Caen player, also known for some off-field antics during his time under the management of Franck Dumas, wants to turn the page and prove his worth as a player: “I want to show that I’ve changed. Today, I have a child, a family, and much more responsibility, I won’t make the same mistakes as in the past. Thanks to Nice, a new opportunity opens up for me to prove my value.”
“Staying up? A great challenge”
It goes without saying that the task will not be easy for Anthony Mounier’s counterpart on the right. He will be tasked with reviving a Nice attack in deep crisis, lacking confidence and rarely able to convert scoring opportunities. As evidence, behind Anthony Mounier, the club’s top scorer, the next two players who score the most goals for Nice are none other than defenders Renato Civelli and Fabian Monzon.
A clearly concerning record indicating the inevitable need to recruit in this sector if the club wants to stay up. “The fact that the club is in a difficult position didn’t deter me, on the contrary, helping the club stay up is a great challenge for me. I’m a dynamic player, I like to take on opponents, I will do my utmost to keep the club up.”
Elliot Grandin is set to play his first match for Gym tomorrow night against Marseille in the semi-final of the Coupe de la Ligue. The Stade Vรฉlodrome is a familiar ground for the former Grenoble player, having played there for one year. Coincidentally, in his first match with the Olympians, the attacker, originally from Calvados, scored… Let’s hope history repeats itself tomorrow in favor of the Aiglons.
