Barely arrived on the Stade Rennais bench, Jorge Sampaoli could well sacrifice Steve Mandanda (39 years old) during the winter transfer window. And this, despite so far cordial relations in Brittany.
The arrival of Jorge Sampaoli at Stade Rennais must not have filled Steve Mandanda with happiness. Steve Mandanda and Jorge Sampaoli, who maintained fluctuating relationships for seventeen months at OM, met again last week, where they will work together to relaunch the Breton club. The question is until when? The former Le Havre player has obviously not forgotten that it was during the Sampaoli era that his status as a starter, untouchable for eleven seasons, was called into question at OM. At the time, the coach preferred Pau Lopez.
Mandanda under observation until January?
According to L'Équipe, the Stade Rennais coach knows that he needs executives today and should therefore count on Mandanda to lay the foundations of his project with the Rouge et Noir. From the start of their new collaboration, the 39-year-old goalkeeper will have to perform well but his medium-term future would be far from assured. “The Argentinian intends to let a few matches pass to get an idea of the positions where he will ask his management for reinforcements in the January transfer window. This includes the goalkeeper position, explains the sports daily. Mandanda's succession was planned for the summer but in Rennes, no player is essential. » And the former OM goalkeeper will therefore be under observation until next January.
