Alex Mendy: “I met incredible people in Nice”

He was “post-trained” at OGC Nice, he revealed himself in Strasbourg. At 30, he is now the top scorer in the history of Stade Malherbe de Caen, with whom he has scored 72 goals since 2020. Having become an international (7 caps with Guinea-Bissau), Alexandre Mendy has not forgotten anything his young years. He has not lost his freshness and kindness either. Before a meeting where the players trained at OGC Nice will be in the spotlight, we made a phone call to the center forward.

Alex, what do you think of Nice – Strasbourg arriving on Sunday?
It makes me think of two clubs where I played and where I experienced special events that marked my life. Nice was the first time I moved away from my family, because I'm from Toulon, the first time I arrived in a professional structure, my first professional contract (in the summer of 2014). Strasbourg is my first in a big stadium, a place where I enjoyed myself. I have a lot of good things coming to mind…

Even though you only played one season as a professional here, you always followed the Gym…
I have a special attachment to Nice, for many reasons: my first (child) was born here, I signed my first professional contract there… I met incredible people in Nice. I am thinking in particular of coach Pires, who helped me cross the threshold to access the professional world. Life meant that I flourished elsewhere. It's destiny. Maybe it wouldn't have worked if I had stayed in Nice, that can't be explained. I don't regret having moved and being able to achieve what I'm achieving at the moment.

As a reminder, you became the top scorer in the history of Stade Malherbe de Caen this season.

With 72 goals. It's nice. It's something that will stay. I have been in Caen since 2020. What makes the difference? The stability, the environment, being comfortable here. My family feels good, everything is together. If you don't have this peace of mind, if you're not in your right mind, it's not possible. At least for me. Between loans and injuries, I moved around a lot at the start of my career and in Caen, I found stability. This is what allows me to be good in my life and in my football.

Who have you stayed in contact with from your time in Nice?
All the training friends. During the week, I was on the phone with Ange Digbeu and to tell the truth, I heard from a lot of people: Saïd (Benrahma), Sada (Thioub), Romain (Perraud), Dorian (Caddy), Gautier ( Lloris), Vincent (Koziello), Jonathan (Correia)… Yannis (Clémentia) and Anthony (Mandrea) are in my team. When I think about it, it's a lot (smile). I often speak with Boul' (historic physiotherapist at OGC Nice). These years of training left their mark on me. For me, it was my first steps in a professional club, at 18 years old. Above all, football is a human adventure. I loved this team that we had in reserve. It was the trigger for my career.

What advice can you give to young people who are in training, in the position you occupied years ago?
It's not really advice but if I look at the picture of my career and what I'm currently achieving, I just tell them to be persistent. You have to persevere and always keep believing. When we do things well, good things can happen to us.

Do you have a message for the people at the club and the supporters who have fond memories of you?

I also have good memories of them. May the supporters continue to be behind the Gym as they have always been and may they take care of my brother, Ali Abdi. He really deserves what's happening to him. The L1 was his dream. He could even have come to Nice for free… He arrived in an incredible environment for his family and for himself. He couldn't have dreamed of better, including in this system, this 3-4-3 of Franck Haise. Everything lined up for him. I hope it continues. He's a good person and I talk to him on the phone all the time. He “loves it”. He was as strong in Caen as he is in Nice. He knew how to remain patient. What is happening to him is normal. I have always followed the Gym's matches but I have followed them even more closely since his arrival. And for everyone I have known, in training and at the club, I just hope that everyone is doing well and that we will have the opportunity to see each other again one day.