This Wednesday evening, Place Rossetti hosted the first meeting between Nice fans and the nine new recruits of the Gym. Nearly 300 people were present for an autograph session, photos, and chats in a friendly atmosphere at the heart of Old Nice. While the smiles were indeed present, the discussions quickly turned to the transfer window…
Smiles, selfies, and new faces
From 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM, the heart of Old Nice transformed into a red and black gathering place. Brand new jerseys, phones raised to capture the moment, fans came to discover those who will defend their colors this season.
The nine recruits, Charles Vanhoutte, Jumah Bah, Abdul Samed Salis, Peprah Kojo Oppong, Isak Jansson, Yehvan Diouf, Gabin Bernardeau, Kevin Carlos, and Tiago Gouveia signed and took photos for half an hour before answering public questions in a friendly atmosphere.
“It’s not every day you can chat with players in the middle of Old Nice,” shares Eric, who came with his 12-year-old son. “It’s simple, it’s pleasing, it brings the club closer to its supporters.”
But a transfer window that leaves something to be desired
Behind the smiles and applause, the transfer window remained at the center of conversations. Many had not forgotten the departures of key players like Gaëtan Laborde and Evan Guessand.
“It’s true that we expected more,” explains Julien, a loyal fan of Populaire Sud. “We thought there would be major reinforcements. Now, we’re going to trust them because we love the club, but it’s a bit tight.”
The same feeling for Sophie, a subscriber for ten years: “We wanted a player that would excite the stadium. Here, we’ve replaced, but not really strengthened. After the profits made by the club, we expected better.”
Mikaël, a student, smiles as he shows off his freshly signed new jersey: “We sold, we collected… but we didn’t reinvest. It seems a bit stingy. But hey, we support the Gym anyway.”
Nathalie, who came with her two children, prefers to remain optimistic: “The recruits are not to blame. They’re discovering Nice, they’re going to discover the stadium. We wish them success, even though replacing Gaëtan Laborde or Marcin Bulka is not easy.”
This is the Nice paradox. The Gym has sold, and sold well. Between the departures of key players and a few successful transfers, the coffers have been well filled. But when it comes down to accounts, the money hasn’t really been reinvested. The club has bet on young profiles, sometimes promising, but without the “impact player” that many hoped for.
Behind this feeling of frustration, one word often emerges: INEOS. The club’s owner since 2019, Jim Ratcliffe’s group is regularly accused of distance and lack of involvement. Supporters feel Nice is not a priority, and that financial prudence outweighs sporting ambition.
Between impatience and confidence
In the end, this meeting reflected the current mood: pride, passion, but also a hint of doubt.
As they left the square, a small group summed up the evening well: “We’re not satisfied, but we’ll stand behind them. Because here, in Nice, we never give up.”
The recruits have met their new audience. Now, it remains to be seen if they can convince on the field that this prudent transfer window might still hold some good surprises.
