Recruited by LOSC for the tidy sum of 14 million euros in July 2022 to compensate for the departure of Burak Yilmaz, the former Clermont Foot center forward quickly left the game. His first feat of arms with Lille remains to have been seen in a nightclub on the eve of a match against PSG, barely a month after his arrival in the North.
The uncontrolled slippages of “Momo”
Subsequently, the 26-year-old Guinean international, who had already been talked about in the news section when he was in Clermont after a road accident that he had caused while he was in drunkenness, did not justify his double-digit transfer, so much so that LOSC preferred to loan him to Le Havre.
But last season in Normandy did not allow for a rehabilitation. After an encouraging first part of the season (11 starts, 4 goals, two assists), he almost disappeared from the radar screens after the break (6 starts, 1 goal). On the evening of a home defeat against Reims, on February 25, the striker even made headlines again by coming to blows with a disgruntled Normandy supporter.
Suffice it to say that when he returned to the Lille squad this summer, few observers imagined seeing him perform the 2024-2025 season in the Northwhere he is under contract until 2027.
He managed to convince the new coach
And yet, on the eve of a first-class schedule, including the reception of Real Madrid next Wednesday, Bayo is in the plans. Certainly, not as a starter in a position where Jonathan David cannot be replaced, but he remains a real replacement solution.
“ Since the start of the season, he put a lot of effort into training and a lot of effort in his life outside the field to have a healthy weight necessary for performance. I’m very happy with what he’s doing. He is a player who is progressing, who is regaining confidence, I think he needed it. Like any striker, it’s easier to score goals when you have confidence », testifies Bruno Genesio, also under the charm of a whole boy, renowned for his kindness and who often had to fight in life to convince.
Bayo passed Ilic
The coach, seduced by his attitude during preparation matchesalso preferred to see the Serbian Andrej Ilic leave on loan during the last summer transfer window, rather than a player with high potential, and in full redemption.
For Mohamed Bayo, for whom the Lille supporters had concocted a gently mocking song during his first season in the North (“ A Ricard for Momo Bayo, hi ha hi ha ho! ), a first challenge was met, that of convincing the staff. Now the most important thing remains: scoring goals.
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