Tracked this winter by Stade Rennais, which he challenges on Saturday (9 p.m.) with Olympique de Marseille, the French midfielder has (once again) won his place in the Marseille ranks, without making any noise.
«He changed my mind in five minutes in Nantes.» First scorer for Olympique de Marseille during the card against Le Havre (5-1) last Sunday at the Vélodrome, Valentin Rongier won the heart of his coach Roberto De Zerbi, very clear in the post-match press conference at about competition within its workforce. “Players like (Ishmael) Koné, (Elye) place, (Lilian) Brassiere or (Jonathan) Rowe have quality, they must show that they can play, work to deserve their place. I make my choices in good faith, even if I could be wrong, said the Italian technician. But even coming in at 4-0, they have to make a difference. Rongier is the best example. He made me change my mind in five minutes in Nantes (entered the 87th minute during the 1-2 victory for the Olympians). It doesn’t take much, but that little bit that makes the difference, I have to see to change my mind.»
Best interceptor in Europe
Like a sense of deja vu. Rarely in the initial plans of coaches upon their arrival, generally appreciated by his supporters but often mocked for his (so-called) glass ceiling (at European level), Rongier has (again) turned the tables to establish himself in the eleven Marseille. After Villas-Boas, Sampaoli and Tudor, the midfielder trained at FC Nantes convinced De Zerbi. With his handyman qualities in the midfield and his impeccable state of mind.
Proof in numbers. Relaunched as a starter on the Lens pitch (1-3) on November 23, the ex-Marseille captain, surprise scorer at Bollaert, has not been out of the starting line-ups since. And OM thus remains on five victories and a draw (against Lille) in the last six meetings, having regained control of the game and a certain defensive assurance. On this point, Rongier is no stranger to it either. According to the figures of DataMB Footballthe former Nantes player is the best interceptor in the five major European championships (10 interceptions on average per match) ahead of Real Madrid’s French international Eduardo Camavinga (9.34) and Betis Sevilla player Johnny Cardoso (9.22) . A statistic which perfectly illustrates the qualities, and the return to favor of the 30-year-old Olympian, just a few months after his struggles last season (10 matches played), condemned very early by a fracture of the kneecap. This long injury now behind him, Rongier is back in business.
“Rongier will not move”
Saturday (9 p.m.) on the Rennes pitch during the 17th and final day of the first leg in Ligue 1, Roberto De Zerbi would have no reason to do without his player. While the latter attracts the desires of… Stade Rennais, keen this winter to support its recruit Seko Fofana with a more defensive profile in the middle. Rouge et Noir coach Jorge Sampaoli especially remembers his mandate at OM (2021-2022) with Rongier as a key player in his hybrid system. “On (Valentin) Rongier, they (the Rennes leaders) are ready to pull out all the stops. That doesn’t mean it’s going to happen, because Marseille is not at all determined to listen. But they are ready to send a lot», affirmed Monday in l’After Foot journalist Daniel Riolo, confirming the information from RMC Sport.
Two days earlier, before Marseille’s success against Le Havre, Roberto De Zerbi closed the door: “They will have to look for another player because Rongier will not move. File (already) closed? “RDZ”, who has found his cruising speed at the head of OM, would not wish to fundamentally shake up his squad during the winter transfer window, even if defender Luiz Felipe arrived this week from Saudi Arabia. There is therefore no question of selling Rongier, “an important player», «the surveyor who puts order on the ground», jubilant the Italian coach on the sidelines of the founding victory against AS Monaco (2-1). “During these months of injury and recovery, I worked, I kept my mouth shut and today it’s paying off», whispered the player in the mixed zone after the release against the ASM. It’s hard to prove him wrong. As often since his arrival in September 2019 on the Canebière, there is an OM with and without Valentin Rongier.
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