Blas, the victory against Losc as a farewell gift before joining … Lille?

The football gods are capricious. Under contract until 2024 in Nantes and holder of an exit voucher for this summer, like his little comrades Alban Lafont and Moses Simon, Ludovic Blas is ardently courted by Losc. This is not really the best kept secret in Ligue 1. Moreover, Antoine Kombouaré, coach of the Canaries, did not try to drown the fish Thursday, at a press conference. “We are not going to hide: there are contacts with Lille“said the Kanak coach, noting that nothing is done.

«In the past, some players have had advanced contacts, some times it succeeds, others not… We don’t know.“, he let go. What we do know, however, is that FC Nantes, silent in Angers (0-0) at the start of the L1 season and beaten by PSG before that at the Champions Trophy (4-0), will face… Lille this Friday (8:45 p.m.), during the second day. You can not make that up…

A contract, as long as it is not signed, there is nothing. You have to be very careful about what you say. There are indeed contacts. Afterwards, if it will succeed or not, I don’t know.

Antoine Kombouare

The situation is obviously special for the former Guingampais, a major player for the Canaries. So much so that one could wonder if it was appropriate to align him against his potential future club. According to various sources, Blas is indeed very interested in the Lille challenge. And this even if the champions of France 2021 do not compete in Europe in 2022-23, unlike the FCN, qualified in the Europa League for the benefit of its success in the Coupe de France last season. “A contract, as long as it is not signed, there is nothing. The proof: if I understood correctly, some of you have announced that he was no longer with us this weekend, that he would not be in the group against Lille… We have to do very careful what you say. There are indeed contacts. Afterwards, if it will succeed or not, I don’t know.“, insists Kombouaré, affirming that the player of 24 will be in the group and on the ground of La Beaujoire for this meeting. “He is there and there. It is the most important“, Underlines the ex-coach of Paris-SG.

Not having fallen from the last rain, “Golden Helmet” still took the temperature with his player. Wasp not mad…”He confirmed what I thought, namely that he wants to play this match and that we don’t talk to him about what is happening in his contacts with Lille. It’s private in the sense that he has a job to do and he knows there is a game to play and especially to win against Losc. (…) He trains every day, he is happy. He said to me: “coach, I am 100% ready to play this match”. It is enough for me“, he slips.

And to continue, realistic about the present situation: “I’m not going to lie to you, one wonders if he will be 100%, I don’t know. He will give the answer on the ground. He wants to play this match, to have a great match, which Nantes wins. Besides, I’m not 100% certain that boys like Nicolas Pallois, Andre Girotto or Pedro Chirivella will make a great match.»

Nantes in search of certainties

Recruited in 2019, Ludovic Blas has in any case erased his imperfections and his impatience to establish himself as one of the strong links of FC Nantes, and more generally a very, very good player in L1. A player who has a vocation to see what is happening higher, without offending the Canaries, who are coming out of a great 2021-22 campaign. Which Canaries have not yet found the right fuel, they who lost Randal Kolo Muani (Frankfurt) this summer. “It’s a team that has changed a bit even if it has kept an important base, a team that needs to regain confidence in what it did last season.“, analyzes Antoine Kombouaré, explaining that he would have been “much more worried if (Nantes) had returned from Angers having only defended“. Indeed, the people of Nantes had situations, failing to shine by their efficiency.

One thing is certain: without Blas, it will be even harder for the Canaries in search of confirmation and who face this Friday “a revengeful team compared to last season», dixit Kombouaré, who does not want the soap opera to drag on. “At some point, I will end up saying no. If it drags… Afterwards, I’m not saying that I have full powers. But if you ask me the question, I will say no. You have to avoid asking me the question… A deadline? There will be one», Asserts the 58-year-old technician. President Kita’s patience may be more consistent with a check for €20 million at stake, depending on the amounts mentioned here and there. Although, this sum is in no way delusional for a player of this quality, which we had also seen floating against the Parisian ogre on the side of Tel Aviv.

I aim to go higher. Where ? Good question… But higher to progress, as high as possible. I am open to any proposal, in France or abroad, but always with a view to progress.

Ludovic Blas

«I am ambitious. I have always seen Nantes as a stage in my progress. I aim to go higher. Where ? Good question… But higher to progress, as high as possible. I am open to any proposal, in France or abroad, but always with a view to progresssaid Blas a few months ago, on Canal+. To see if Losc will be this challenge. For now, this is his next opponent.