Serie A: Maxime Lopez, a kid who makes Sassuolo happy (and who should stay there …)

It is an anecdote revealed by one of the two interested parties, in this case Antonio Vacca. Passed by the team of Foggia, the Italian midfielder had met there at the time Roberto De Zerbi, then coach of the team of Puglia. The two, who have kept in touch and exchange from time to time on Whatsapp, then took the opportunity to talk about one of the players courted by Sassuolo, where “RDZ” now leads. “Take a look, tell me if you can see him in my team“, asks the latter of his former player shortly after sending a video as a compilation.”He’s not a beast, but he still has strength, good step frequency and technique too. He plays number 10 ? “Vacca asks. “No, I want to make him play with (Manuel) Locatelli for two“Replies De Zerbi. This player was Maxime Lopez.

Convinced by the profile of the midfielder of OM, De Zerbi quickly endorsed his management to recruit him. No sooner said than done. “Sassuolo confirms the arrival of Lopez, bought in the form of a loan with option and obligation to buy“, communicated on October 5 the club black green. “There was chemistry with De Zerbi from the first call. We talked a bit in Spanish and his speech matched the vision of football that I had. So it was done in five minutes“, the player will tell a little later RMC Sport. “He’s a player we’ve been following for a long time, says Giovanni Rossi, the sporting director of Sassuolo. We were looking for a day with its characteristics. Our relationship with OM is very good and our contacts have been able to materialize in the last few days under favorable conditions. We had spoken with the player, who was excited to come here. Each recruit must stick to the football thinking of the club and the coach.”

Observed and scrutinized, the kid convinces Sassuolo’s recruitment unit. Each person consulted validates their profile. Barely disembarked, Maxime Lopez is unanimous, even in training. His technique, his vision of the game, his touch of the ball: the connection with De Zerbi’s game of possession and movements is instantaneous. “Maxime Lopez has only been there 10 days, but we have the impression that he has been with us for 10 years. He will be an important player for us“, then declared his trainer, totally under the spell of his recruit.

“Maxime is a smart and fast boy, estimates Rossi. It didn’t take long for him to blend in with this new reality and understand his new coach’s ideas. He really broke all the stages. Its adaptation was also favored by some French-speaking players that we have and who were able to support it. “After having launched it against Bologna during the 4th day, De Zerbi does not take him out of his eleven. Since last October 23, the former Marseille midfielder has chained six starts in Serie A, even scoring a magnificent goal on the Napoli field last November 1 (0-2) A slalom worthy of Clément Noël in Wengen, eliminating Kostas Manolas and Tiémoué Bakayoko like vulgar doors.

“He knows how to play football, he has played more than 100 matches in front of a large audience and with great pressure“Sassuolo’s technician explains after the victory at San Paolo. In his 4-2-3-1, Maxime Lopez forms a very technical double pivot with Manuel Locatelli, a real revelation of Calcio for several months. Often the first raiser, the Ex-Marseille midfielder has perfectly integrated into the mechanisms of his team.The famous Italian rigor He complied without any problem.

“In Italy, we can arrive at 1 p.m. and return home at 8 p.m. he still told RMC. The coach does not say: ‘Today, we do an hour and a half’. An exercise can last an hour if it doesn’t have what it wants. The Italians have this rigor in their skin (…) I’m starting to instill it myself because it’s good to get to training and to put this rigor. It is true that there is a difference compared to France. “A problem? Certainly not for someone who makes, on average, 59 passes per game (94% success rate).

Sassuolo is a bit of the ideal team to express Maxime Lopez’s qualities. On the side of the Mapei Stadium, we like to have the ball, build properly and abuse exchange triangles in a small space. From the opposing 30 meters, the freedom is then total to express oneself. The more technical players are called upon to make the difference on a pass, a gesture or a dribble. The pocket medium (1m67) is therefore one of the cornerstones of the construction of the game. And of its frame. To the point that Roberto De Zerbi, who could advance it a notch against Benevento this Friday evening, is now struggling to do without. Enough to already settle the question of the player’s future, which still belongs to OM?

According to The team, the conditions of Maxime Lopez’s loan between OM and Sassuolo are as follows: the call option, set between 1 and 3 million euros depending on the bonuses, would become an obligation if the midfielder plays at least 20 matches this season. Asked about this, Giovanni Rossi confirms this last fact. “We want to keep him at the end of this season, tells us the sports director of the Italian club. It is a loan with an option and an obligation to purchase. There are specific conditions for lifting them. In my opinion, the conditions will be met for both. An obligation from 20 matches? Yes Yes…”

Satisfied with the Lopez operation, Sassuolo will continue to observe the French market. And do not exclude striking it again. “All European clubs follow this championship, assures Rossi. I think we are not the only ones. This is one of the championships where quality is important. Export is also major there. We have always followed Ligue 1 with interest. There are many talents there. “While waiting to find perhaps others, the club black green will continue to benefit from that of Maxime Lopez. For this season, already. And most likely the next ones, then …