Transfers : Ruffier interested in Rennes

Since a few days, Ouest-France and L’Équipe have announced that Monaco’s goalkeeper Stéphane Ruffier was Frédéric Antonetti’s priority for the goalkeeper position.

On Wednesday, talking to radio RMC, the French international reaffirmed his wish to leave the Principality. “I really don’t want to play in Ligue 2 next season”, Ruffier explained, labelling his future departure as “mandatory”. In view of next season, the goalkeeper is therefore taking a few contacts, without rushing anything at the moment. “We start having discussions nicely, he tells. At the moment, it’s too early, but it goes ahead nicely but surely».
Before a transfer can be agreed, the main obstacle remains the transfer fee demanded by AS Monaco, who ask for 7 to 10 million euros to let him go. “We have been relegated, and I imagine my price tag must have dropped slightly, the keeper considers. For a goalkeeper, 7 to 10 million is a huge sum of money, and it could stop many clubs”.

And Stade Rennes is certainly one of these clubs, although Ruffier affirms that there « hasn’t been a real contact so far ». The Monaco goalkeeper doesn’t hide, however, that he would consider a move to Brittany. “We would have to discuss about the club’s objectives, he warns. But they will be playing the Europa League next year, and it’s always interesting to play in a competition like this one”. A European participation, which would be “a progression” according to Ruffier.
But the Monaco-man doesn’t exclude any possibility. “We will see which clubs are interested in me, and then I will have to decide where the best challenge is […] I’m open to any proposition”.