After two precious but unconvincing victories to end 2024, against Angers (2-0) and Bordeaux (4-1), a National 2 team which had opened the scoring, in the Coupe de France, the results of the first part of the season is largely negative.
Only 12th, seven lengths behind the European places, the Bretons therefore felt, once again, the need to put their work back into practice during the winter transfer market.
The first effects were felt on Wednesday with the arrival of central midfielder Seko Fofana for some 20 million euros. He could soon be followed by goalkeeper Brice Samba for 15 million more.
With the financial support of its wealthy owners, the Pinault family, Rennes should not stop there.
Generally considered an “adjustment transfer window”, the winter transfer window should rather be a new transfer window of total realignment for the Rouge et Noir who lost track more than a year ago now.
Massara in retreat, Pouille in control
Since the start of last season, they have changed coach twice, sporting director, president, they recruited ten players this summer, let almost as many go, without managing to slow their decline.
If the need for fresh blood certainly responds to the “diagnosis” made by coach Jorge Sampaoli, who arrived in mid-November, on the shortcomings of his squad, the profile of the two priority targeted players seems to be a new strategic about-face.
Arriving this summer as sporting director, Frederic Massara, who had worked at AC Milan and Roma, was to give a more international dimension and move Rennes recruitment upmarket.
But, this winter, Rennes is mainly targeting seasoned Ligue 1 and French-speaking players. This demonstrates that the Breton club still believes in European qualification and wants recruits capable of making an immediate impact.
But this also sounds like a disavowal for the Franco-Italian. The fact that Fofana and Samba crossed paths with Arnaud Pouille, the executive president of Stade Rennais, in Lens, when he was its general manager, suggests that Massara is not in charge, at least for this winter. It must be said that the provisional results of his first transfer window are quite largely negative.
Summer recruits already on the way
Among the players he brought in, midfielder Naouirou Ahamada did not play a single minute and could be sent back to Crystal Palace, who had loaned him, while Finnish Glen Kamara did not adapt well.
In attack, the Portuguese left winger Jota never earned his place, even as a luxury replacement, any more than his alter ego on the right, the Colombian Carlos Andres Gomez, or the Dane Henrik Meister up front.
In defense, the Norwegian Leo Ostigard and the Dutchman Hans Hateboer had significant playing time but without justifying their flattering reputation arriving from Naples and Atalanta Bergamo respectively. As for the Danish attacking midfielder Albert Gronbaek, he showed technical quality but still seems a little light to establish himself as an indisputable starter, as does the young Welshman Jordan James, in the middle.
If Rennes continues to prospect to strengthen itself further – the name of Joris Chotard, Montpellier midfielder has been mentioned -, time is running out with five crucial meetings in January: trips to Nice and Monaco and the receptions of Marseille and Brest in L1 and a trip to Troyes in the Coupe de France. In the absence of notable progress in the results but also in the content of the matches, the horizon may not brighten up soon for the Bretons.
France
