A LOSC executive player has packed his bags. The northern club will close a chapter.
If Paulo Fonseca will still be on the Lille bench for this 2023-24 season, the northern club will open a new chapter in its recent history. The departures of several executive players were expected. But if certain elements should leave a void, there is a name that will remain even more in the hearts of Lille supporters: José Fonte.
While his contract in Lille expired on June 31, the Portuguese central defender will not extend the adventure. L’Équipe confirms this Sunday that Fonte will join Sporting Club de Braga, a club in his native Portugal, which he attended at the start of his career.
José Fonte in Lille, it’s over
After 5 years of good and loyal service, Fonte will leave excellent memories of his time at LOSC, where his very high level experience, his professionalism and his leadership were unanimous. This was also the meaning of the speech of Olivier Létang, the boss of the northern club, as part of the presentation of Tiago Santos, this week, at the Domaine de Luchin.
“I have a deep respect for José, for everything he has contributed for five seasons, two trophies. He is an important character of the club. We took stock for two years after each end of the season to determine what would be next. With Paulo (Fonseca), we chose to go for a number one centre-back. A defender who has this leadership and this ability to play every game. José wants to keep playing and be important. I spoke last Saturday with him. I considered that José could not be this number one with a lot of respect and hindsight. We have three centre-backs currently, Leny (Yoro), Tiago (Djalo, currently unavailable) and Alexsandro. Baffled (Diakity) can also evolve in this position as he did against Marseille at the end of the season”. Words that had announced the color.
