2018-2019 season. LOSC finished runner-up to Paris Saint-Germain, thus securing their ticket to the Champions League, a first qualification since the brief European adventure of the 2012-13 financial year and a last place in the groups behind Bayern Munich, Valencia and BATE Borisov. A return to the biggest European competition that the northern club owes in particular to one man: Nicolas Pépé. The Ivorian winger splashed the French Championship with his talent, scoring 22 goals and providing 11 assists in 38 days played. If he does not finish top scorer (Kylian Mbappé, PSG, 33) or even best passer (Téji Savanier, Nîmes, 13), the native of Mantes-la-Jolie has distinguished himself among the best attackers in Europe this season – there, enough to attract European leaders.
Because yes, during the summer transfer window, a plethora of big clubs were associated with the one who could have joined Olympique de Marseille when it exploded at Angers SCO, such as Inter Milan, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid or even Bayern Munich. It was ultimately Arsenal who won the race and offered the Ivorian international for a check for 80 million euros, the biggest transfer in the history of the London club. Obviously, this amount created great expectations among the Gunners, who hoped to see their new recruit help the AFC return to the C1, a competition they had not tasted for 3 years. His first two exercises in the red and white jersey are quite encouraging (24 goals and 15 offerings), but leave the supporters of north London wanting more.
A failed relaunch in Nice
It remains to be seen whether this drop in form is due to pressure due to the amount invested, or simply what is called across the Channel a “one-season wonder”… In any case, to be relaunch and hope to return to the high level, OGC Nice offered him the opportunity to redeem himself in the eyes of Gunners fans in the form of a one-year loan. The perfect recipe for him, to return to Ligue 1, which he knew for three seasons between Lille and Angers, in an emerging project like the Gym, author of a major transfer window (€84 million) to interfere in the top places in the championship. Unfortunately, this cocktail will not work for the ex-Poitevin, who in one season will miss more matches than during the rest of his professional career due to physical problems. In fact, his knee kept him off the field for 16 games, or half of the season. He will leave the Côte d’Azur with 6 goals and a small assist. Not enough, therefore, to reintegrate an Arsenal in full rise…
The one who was courted by the biggest three years ago is no longer unanimous. While he is under contract with the club from the north of the capital until 2024, the latter is discussing a termination of his lease to facilitate his departure. Because yes, contenders from the Süper Lig or even the Saudi Pro League were ready to relaunch it, like Besiktas. Finally, Trabzonspor will have managed to convince the Elephant with 37 selections (10 goals), as we exclusively announced to you. He also arrived in Trabzon to complete his arrival with the seven-time Turkish champions for a single season. Enough to put his name on the sad list of notable Premier League flops in recent years, alongside Jadon Sancho at Manchester United or Timo Werner at Chelsea. In Turkey, Nicolas Pepe therefore has the opportunity to relaunch his career in a championship where some former Ligue 1 residents reside, such as Vincent Aboubakar (ex-Lorient) and Georges-Kevin Nkoudou (ex-OM) at Besiktas, Mauro Icardi ( ex-PSG) and Tanguy Ndombélé (ex-OL) at Galatasaray or even Alexander Djiku (ex-Strasbourg) and Cengiz Ünder (ex-OM) at Fenerbahce. The arrival of Pepe therefore confirms the XXL transfer window for Turkish clubs this summer…
