A new era. Bought last month by the investment fund 777 Partners, the Red Star resumed training this Thursday morning in Marville after a month and a half of vacation. In National since its relegation from L2 in 2019, the Saint-Ouen club, which has retained its pro status, wants to move forward in a difficult championship where a third of the contingent (6 teams) will be relegated at the end of the season in due to the redesign of the L1 and L2. With a budget up 20% and which should be around €4m, the centenary club is expected to play at the top of the table and the rise in L2. “To move forward, I like to work under pressure, says coach Habib Beye, who arrived last season during the season. I love coaching, being with my players on a daily basis is an obsession. We work in the continuity of last season where I was allowed to put my ideas in place. »
Sporting director Reda Hammache takes care of the transfer window in consultation with the coach. The Audoniens suffered a heavy loss with the departure of their best player. Striker Pape Meïssa Ba, National’s top scorer last year with 21 goals in 31 games, has signed a 3-year contract with Grenoble (L2). The doorman Paul Charruau has joined Amiens (L2). On the arrival side, Senegalese striker Alioune Fall (27) signed Wednesday evening from Beroé Stara Zagora (Bulgarian D1) with whom he scored 22 goals and delivered 17 assists. Midfielder Fred Dembi (Orléans, N) also arrives in Saint-Ouen with Ryad Hachem (Cholet, N), Kemo Cissé (Paris 13 Atletico, N) and Pépé Bonet (3rd goalkeeper at Stade Rennes).
First friendly match on July 8
“I am very happy with the signing of Alioune Fall. We were also able to keep important players like Cheikh Ndoye, Damien Durand, Loïc Kougba, Blondon Meyapya, Aniss El Hriti and Ludovic Butelle, says Beye. We start with a challenge. I am very satisfied with the recruitment and we will try to find a few profiles so that the group is complete as soon as possible. My goal is also to optimize the players at my disposal. »
After a series of medical tests started on Wednesday, the players will train until Friday July 8, the date of their first friendly match against Boulogne-sur-Mer (N2) before leaving from July 10 to 16 for an internship at technical center of Brittany in Ploufagran. After a 2nd friendly match against Versailles (Nat.) on July 16 in Brittany, the Audoniens will continue their preparation with a second training camp in La Plagne (Savoie) from July 22 to 27 with an opposition planned against Grenoble (L2) on July 23. Then return to Marville. The last two preparation matches are scheduled in Auxerre (L1) on July 30 and then in Bourg-en-Bresse (Nat.) on August 5. The Red Star will then start their championship on August 12 against an opponent who will be known in the coming days.
