Recruited for 12 million euros by Olympique de Marseille in the summer transfer window, Ismaël Koné (22 years old) is having difficulty establishing himself in Canebière and would be pushed out this winter.
Valentin Rongier is not the only OM player to have managed to turn around Roberto De Zerbi during the season. In the absence of Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg, who was ill, Bilal Nadir (21) celebrated his first goal in the Marseille jersey yesterday against Le Havre (5-1) and was able to perfectly replace the Danish Viking in the midfield.
The essential being done at the break, the former OGC Nice player had to leave his place in the second half to calmly watch his teammates finish the job. “I was sorry to take him out,” breathed De Zerbi, “but we were leading by three goals and I didn’t want him to get a second yellow card. In the absence of Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg, Nadir provides guarantees, he knows the Vélodrome, he is a talented player, he can become an important element of the team. »
OM surveyed the market for Koné
In the hierarchy of OM midfielders, Nadir seems to be ahead of Amine Harit, who has recurring calf problems, and Ismaël Koné. “The competition is healthy, especially with Isma, with whom I get along really well and I was happy that he played the second half,” said Nadir in the mixed zone. I didn't expect to play so much at the start of the season. »
According to L'Équipe, Nadir's move upmarket could cause an unexpected departure in the winter transfer window: Koné. Recruited for €12 million last summer, the Canadian international has been too neutral since his arrival at OM, where management has surveyed the market in recent weeks to find a base for him. After Lilian Brassier, the 22-year-old therefore looks like another casting error from the last transfer window.
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