This is not the entrance through the front door that we can dream of when we are announced as one of the most beautiful promises of French football, but it is already that. Jonathan Ikoné injured, Isaac Lihadji benefited from his partner’s package in Lille to join the France Espoirs team for the first time. Result: a goal for his debut in Liechtenstein on Thursday before facing Switzerland on Monday for the “final” of the qualifying group for Euro 2021 that the Bleuets are sure to play. At 18, the striker is a youngster among the young in a team where the age of the executives oscillates between 20 and 22 years.
“It’s the logical next step for him,” explains Jean-Claude Giuntini, his coach from U16 to U18. He digests what he has learned in these different age categories and really enters the professional world. He was very good at eliminating his opponents, but had to improve his game with the others. He used to play ball, but now he’s playing football. “
His name appears in the Anigo investigation
It seems obvious said like that, but Isaac Lihadji is gradually returning to the logical continuation of his apprenticeship after several hectic months. In the wake of the U17 World Cup at the end of 2019 where his kidneys carry the Bleuets until the semi-final, the left-hander attracts the attention of many clubs. OM, where he played at the time, tried to get him to sign his first professional contract. A long soap opera, ended with the player’s choice to join Lille and his exclusion from the Marseille pro group as a sanction.
“I think that OM positioned themselves too late, underlines Bastien Cordoléani, scout for several clubs in the region. After the World Cup, Marseille had to negotiate with a boy who had very interesting requests… ”But if Borussia Dortmund and several English clubs are looking at him, the young man prefers to cross France to join Lille.
A departure on which the investigators of the interregional direction of the PJ of Marseille studied. The latter are interested in the commission linked to his signature in the North and suspect the former OM coach José Anigo, indicted, of having tried to recover part of the sum.
“He must have the ambition to be titular”
“He’s not at all disturbed by this story. He has nothing to do with that, he does not take care of it “, describes Karim Rahou, educator in his first club in Septèmes-les-Vallons, proud to have discovered at 10 years old the one he describes as” a wizard “. “I think Lille is a very good choice for him,” he continues. The coach (Editor’s note: Christophe Galtier) is an excellent coach who trusts young people. He starts off as a substitute and makes some great appearances. “
In a Lille offensive sector provided, Lihadji gathers more and more playing time after a start to the season where he was hardly used. Before the break, he came off the bench in Lille’s victory in Milan (0-3) in the Europa League and in the defeat in Brest (3-2) the following weekend.
“He must have the ambition to be a holder, but it is still early to claim to be it all the time,” slips Jean-Claude Giuntini, who like everyone describes a discreet and introverted player. “He will still continue to progress,” says Karim Rahou. And end up reaching the France A team by playing more and more. “
