Julien Féret, first recruit

While some transfers contain an element of surprise, and become official without anyone really expecting them, others have got all the aspects of a smooth, perfectly executed plan. As soon as January this year, the possibility of a return to the homeland for Julien Féret sounded like an obvious issue. At the time, his name was already doing the rounds in the transfer columns, with a reported interest from Bordeaux.

On January 9th, L’Équipe were first to announced the mutual interest between the Nancy midfielder and his training club. Pierre Dréossi would confirm a few days later, while the player praised the Stade Rennais. “I’ve never hidden how much I love this club where I stayed for a little while, the midfielder then explained. It’s a club of my region and I think they’re doing a great job. I always keep a look at how Rennes is doing, and when I’m not playing against them, I’m a Rennes supporter”.
Eager to return, eight years after he left Brittany to kick-start his career, Julien Féret will find a favourable ground at the Stade Rennais, even more so since his qualities have always interested Frédéric Antonetti. “I’m not going to doubletalk: we want him, the Rennes manager affirmed on May 22nd. He is a player with a profile we really like”. A profile that should bring a new creativity to a team which really lacked some this season, an issue the coaching staff is working on correcting for next season.

Desired, desiring to return to Rennes, all Nancy had to do was negotiate a reasonable transfer fee for their technical leader. After three seasons in Lorraine, the player could understandably be looking for a new challenge, which had been acknowledged by his management. Forced to sell him in order to balance the books, the ASNL could hope to receive a consequent transfer indemnity, even mentioning a requested fee above 6 or 7 million euros last January.
Finally, and despite the alleged interests of Lorient and some German clubs, Stade Rennais should pay a fee of just under 4 million euros to Nancy, according to l’Est Républicain. A reasonable amount for a player soon turning 29, and who was recently knocking at the doors of the French national team.

The first Breton player recruited since Arnaud Le Lan in 2002 (except for the players directly graduating from the Academy), Julien Féret should be taking over the role previously held by Jérôme Leroy. The latter and this is a major difference, had arrived in Rennes aged 33 and with many Ligue 1 seasons to his name. Younger, fresher (he played is first Ligue 1 game at 26), Julien Féret still has a long professional future in front of him.
An intelligent player with an exemplary behaviour and great technical ability, the man from the Cotes d’Armor has everything it takes to become one of the key members of this 2011-2012 Stade Rennais. Versatile, his favourite position in Nancy was as a playmaker at the centre of the field. The possibility to also position him on the left or right flank – just as Leroy – should be offering additional solutions to Antonetti. His creativity and his great passing ability should definitely be a serious benefit to the Rennes squad.

- Photo : supporters-stade-de-reims.com