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Journalist
Hungry for sport, he grew up to the sound of Formula 1 engines and the exploits of Ronaldinho. Today, with a Master's degree in sports journalism, he no longer misses an F1 Grand Prix or a PSG match, his two passions and specialties.
Announced about leaving at the end of the year, Antoine Kombouaré ultimately remained on the bench of FC Nantes. An imbroglio which lasted several weeks and on which Daniel Riolo decided to release his revelations. The journalist actually reveals behind the scenes of this soap opera which has experienced several twists and turns.
The end of the year will have been very hectic on the FC Nantes. And for good reason, the departure ofAntoine Kombouare seemed established, to the point that the Coupe de France match against Drancy last December 21 was to be his last match on the Canaries bench. Habib Bey was the favorite to replace Kanak who was ultimately retained in his position and who gave a big rant for his first press conference of 2025 last Thursday. It's difficult to see clearly in this matter, but Daniel Riolo reveals all its secrets.
Riolo releases his revelations on the Kombouaré soap opera
« I will tell everything that happened. Antoine Kombouaré was not expected to be on the bench for the Coupe de France match in Drancy. We told Habib Beye: you will be on the bench. Beye said: “it's Thursday, the match is Saturday, I'm not going to take the team tomorrow”, they wanted to present him Friday afternoon so that he could be on the pitch against Drancy. He said we need to stay calm and get things going after Christmas. After all, Kombouaré might not be aware of what was going on behind his back. Which would be possible with the Kita, but let's play the communication exercise when we know how the Kita manage the club… If people prefer to believe the communication. Obviously they want to fire him, that it's done and completed. They spoke to Conceicao, but there was never really any question of him coming, on the other hand with Habib Beye it was closed », reveals the journalist from RMC at the microphone of theAfter Footbefore continuing.
“In the discussions before things went wrong it was: Kombouaré, it’s 100% over”
« They spoke to Conceicao, but there was never really any question of him coming, on the other hand with Habib Beye it was closed. Except that there was one element: there was no performance manager. The Kitas, when they heard that there was the possibility of Greg Dupont coming, it excited them a little because he worked with Zidane. The Beye clan called Dupont asking if he was going to come. He responded by saying that he couldn't decide that quickly and that he needed time which they didn't have. Kita called him back in the evening to find out if he was coming or not. Knowing that Dupont wouldn't come, Kita said: “we'll let it go.” It's all the madness of the Kita family. Habib Beye told himself that everything was not going to collapse because of that, everything collapsed because of that. Except that in the discussions before things went wrong it was: Kombouaré, it's 100% over. Habib Beye was in Paris and he was told to come to Nantes the next day, Friday the 20th, to make the presentation before going on the bench for the (Coupe de France) match against Drancy. In the end, things go wrong. He sees Antoine Kombouaré again during a discussion which regains some confidence with the Kita. He tells them that he's not completely burned out and that he can get through this. The Kitas change their mind for the umpteenth time », added Daniel Riolo.
