Ronaldinho. That’s the only name Maurice Cohen was willing to utter in front of journalists. The president of OGC Nice chose irony to discuss transfers. He has been using this strategy since FC Sochaux stole Dramé after they read that the Nice club had begun negotiations with the player and Paris Saint Germain. Once bitten, twice shy… Since that episode, Maurice Cohen no longer mentions any names. A simple press release announces the official signing of a player to the journalists.
Yet names still come out. Why? Simply because certain parties have interests. Clubs wanting to get rid of undesirable players or those with high market value subtly communicate names to the journalists more or less discreetly. These journalists contact the players’ agents, who are more or less talkative. They reveal contacts with other clubs to hike up the bidding.
Example: FC Volvic finds its star player Alain Pepso in poor form at 29. He will never again be as prolific as before. The president or sporting director might subtly whisper to the local sports journalist over an end-of-season drink:
– “You know, Michel, to be able to recruit, we must sell. I wonder if it’s not the right time to part ways with Alain.”
– “You’re going to let Pepso go? Are there any takers?”
– “Big French clubs.”
– “Who?”
– “One club that plays in green… and another that’s about to lose their striker.”
The journalist will announce this news the next day in his columns, and it will be relayed in specialized magazines. The president of FC Volvic has played his cards right. Other clubs will show interest and he can drive the price up. The player also wins. He faces a new challenge and gets a salary increase. This scenario is fictional and even caricatural, far from reality for some transfers, much less so for others. Player agents add more grist for the rumor mill media. Everyone gains: clubs, players, and agents, as well as specialized newspapers that sell a lot of papers during this period.
At Nice-Premium, we don’t know more than the others. We use the same techniques, the same networks. This year, the ambition of OGC Nice is to have a squad as successful as this season’s, to keep key players to a reasonable extent, and not to let any player go without having a backup plan. This is probably why the transfer of Hugo Lloris (to AC Milan?) is dragging. Other news:
– Baky Koné might be leaving but not for less than 12 million Euros.
– Florent Balmont may leave, but only if OGC Nice finds an agreement with the Reading club for Emerse Faé (Lille is interested).
– Defensively, the Moroccan Youssef Rabeh (Levski Sofia), also in contact with Valenciennes, has been mentioned.
– Lilian Laslandes and OGC Nice are negotiating a contract extension.
– Olivier Echouafni has signed a new contract with the Eagles.
– Mohamed Yahaya has terminated his.
– OGC Nice has numerous defenders (Apam, Cid, Yahia, Hognon, Kanté). One of them leaving is conceivable.
And to speculate, here are some players whose contracts are ending: Laurent Battles (Toulouse), Jérémy Bréchet (Sochaux), Gaël Danic (Troyes), Zvonimir Deranja (Libourne), Jean Sébastien Jaurès (Auxerre), David Jemmali (Bordeaux), Bernard Mendy (Paris SG), Romain Rocchi (Ajaccio), Dos Santos (Toulouse), Romain Sartre (Sedan). Not to mention players abroad. To be continued!
Who said Nice-Premium doesn’t give scoops? You were warned! And as a bonus, we offer you other names (be careful: there are traps): Wilson Oruma, Lionel Mathis, Olivier Monterrubio, Fodé Mansaré, Andrés Franzoia, Fabien Laurenti, Julien Sablé, Carlos Vela, Mathieu Berson, Nicolas Fauvergue, Carlos Tenorio, Etienne Didot, Eric Carrière…
