Dréossi : « We are very likely to lose Marveaux in June »

«Boukari’s potential hasn’t been completely exploited

The main news these days at the Stade Rennais, is obviously the arrival of Razak Boukari, introduced to the media last Monday by Pierre Dréossi, who expressed his satisfaction once again for the quick transfer negotiations. “Since August 31st, after losing Gyan and Bangoura at the last minute, we tried to recruit at least one forward, but it wasn’t possible to do it as a joker, the Rennes general manager reminds. We wanted a player from the French League. In winter, it was important to us, so his adaptation time will be as short as possible. We soon found one or two players likely to join us”.

Most importantly, Stade Rennes could afford that transfer. « We decided to go for something we could achieve, a player wanting to come and able to leave his current club, Dréossi explains. We worked on it, and the player was Razak Boukari».

Talking about the new recruit’s abilities, the Rennes general manager remained measured, insisting mainly on his potential development. “he is a player who nearly only played on the left wing with Lens, Dréossi continues. He scored three goals since the beginning of the season, it’s quite average for a winger, but we believe he has got an interesting potential, which hasn’t been completely exploited. I hope, that we will see that potential pretty soon”. In other words, a player who will probably need some “work” in order to affirm himself and reach his best.

In the meantime, Boukari is clearly an addition to the Rennes attack, and will bring his versatility to Antonetti’s squad. “He can play on the left, on the right, at centre, Dréossi enumerates. He will give us a real lift. Sylvain Marveaux is injured for a very long time, so we are happy to have another player upfront, as we were really missing quantity there”.

The rules and the mysterious forward…

Will Boukari be the only recruit in this winter transfer market, or will another player join Stade Rennes in January ? The general manager did not concede too much on this topic, using one of his favourite words at this time of the year: “opportunities”. “If another opportunity arises, we will get another forward, Dréossi promises. We had to work in emergency and we did it. Now we will be watching the market”.

A waiting position, which seems to hide something else. But the General manager prefers to remain discrete, and refuses to give a name. “We will probably sign another forward”, Dréossi affirms. I’m not sure he would be able to play this season because of the regulations, but clearly, if there is an opportunity we will try to strengthen our team”. What regulations is he talking about? impossible to say. One thing is sure however, this recruit will “not come from the French Championship”, and possibly not this winter.

As far as the defensive recruitment is concerned, after Fanni’s departure and the confirmation of Apam’s unavailability (“Maybe he will return in March”, Dréossi hopes), Rennes management is currently in a “thinking” phase. If a player is recruited, it will be a “young player”, while keeping in mind that “one should first look at home when they look for something”, and consequently that “John Boye, who’s now been there since two seasons and has played very little if not at all” could be given a chance.

Again, the general manager prefers to remain in a waiting position… And hopes to avoid another string of injuries in the defensive line, “We will look at this quietly, but at the moment we can work with this squad”, Dréossi affirms. However, I don’t know if it will we be enough for the rest of the season, so if there is an opportunity, we will be there”.

« Very likely to lose Marveaux in June »

Besides the recruitment, different contract extension negotiations may draw a lot of attention from the media towards the “Rouge et Noir” until June. With the player’s contract expiring at the end of the season, Stade Rennes is «very likely to lose Marveaux in June”, according to Pierre Dréossi.

«What worries me most, is that he has only played five or six games since August (Ed.: In fact, Marveaux has played in ten games) , and I’m not certain he will play again until the end of the season because of his injury, the Rennes general manager explains. At the beginning of the season, we knew when we refused to sell him, that he would probably not sign a new contract”. Last summer, the sportive aspect had been judged more important than financial consideration in Marveaux’ situation, and Frédéric Antonetti explained recently that he “had been fighting” to keep his player (read previously).

Also player reaching the end of his contract, Nicolas Douchez will probably leave Brittany too. According to Dréossi, no negotiation is engaged regarding the extension of the player’s contract at this moment. “we made an offer last year, he turned it down, the former Lille man reminds. Since then, we anticipated with the recruitment of Johan Carasso, the France U21 goalkeeper, and we also have the France U20 goalkeeper, Abdoulaye Diallo. So if Douchez was to leave, if we can’t find an agreement, we have already anticipated his departure”.

Last but not least, a possible contract extension will soon be discussed between Frédéric Antonetti and Dréossi. “We will meet, the latter affirms. We decided that from January 15th we would let a few days go by, and then we would meet to discuss quietly”.