Arriving at Olympique de Marseille in January 2024 with the ambition of shaking up the offensive hierarchy established around Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and a Vitinha in difficulty, Faris Moumbagna was never able to fully defend his chances in the Olympian jersey. Victim of a ruptured cruciate ligament in his right knee on the first day of last season, the Cameroonian striker saw his Marseille adventure come to an abrupt end before it had even really started. Deprived of competition for many months, he never managed to catch up with the Marseille train, especially since Roberto De Zerbi no longer really counted on him when putting together his squad for the new season.
Last summer, Moumbagna was also invited to resume with the reserve in Pro D2, a clear sign that he was no longer part of the Olympians’ plans. Barred by competition and classified among the undesirables, the 25-year-old striker finally found a way out in Italy, where Cremonese, freshly promoted to Serie A, was positioned to welcome him. OM quickly formalized a loan with a purchase option estimated at 7 million euros, accompanied by immediate compensation of around €300,000. A transfer which was part of the club’s downsizing strategy and an opportunity for relaunch for the player. But four months after regaining hope, Faris Moumbagna is struggling to find his way back to the field.
14 minutes played since August
But his beginnings on the other side of the Alps were just as upset as his end to the Marseille adventure. Undermined by recurring muscular problems, Moumbagna has spent more time in the infirmary than on the field since his arrival. With only 14 minutes played, one entry into play, and already missed eight matches due to injury, his integration into Cremonese remains extremely limited. A new complicated period for a player who is struggling to string together sessions and display the continuity essential to convince. During his absence, the competition did not wait since Jamie Vardy (4 goals) and Federico Bonazzoli (4 goals) chained together good performances and goals, making the reconquest of a place even more difficult.
Behind the in-form duo of Vardy and Bonnazzoli, other players await their turn on the offensive lines. We are thinking in particular of Jeremy Sarmiento, on loan from Brighton, but also of Manuel De Luca (1 goal), David Okereke and Antonio Sanabria, three players requested by coach Davide Nicola last summer in the transfer window. However, a glimmer of hope appeared last weekend. Indeed, Moumbagna appeared again in the group against Bologna, present on the bench for the first time in a long time. This gradual return could mark the start of a real recovery, if his body finally agrees to leave him in peace. Nothing is won, but the Cameroonian striker finally sees a window to return to the rotation and prove that he can exist in Serie A.
