Loaned for the end of the season by Arsenal, Ethan Nwaneri made a sensational debut with Olympique de Marseille, notably including a high-class goal against RC Lens (3-1) on Saturday evening.
With his obvious qualities, the English prodigy will bring new solutions to the Phocaeans in the last months of competition, in Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France, and perhaps in the Champions League. Unfortunately for Roberto De Zerbi, the young left-hander is not qualified for the decisive meeting in Bruges, this Wednesday evening in C1. Yet, surprisingly, he boarded the plane to Belgium on Tuesday, with his teammates.
No false joy for OM supporters, their new favorite will not be on the pitch for this duel which should be able to take their team into the Champions League play-offs. There is no change regarding his qualification for the match.
Nwaneri is like Endrick
What is he making the trip for, then? Because OM decided not to return to Marseille after the meeting. The Olympians will head to the Paris region, with a view to their meeting at Paris FC on Saturday afternoon. From Thursday, they will settle in Clairefontaine, the “home” of the French team, in Yvelines. It’s a way for Roberto De Zerbi to unite his group, in the same idea as the “ritiros” organized at the end of last season.
This is why Ethan Nwaneri followed his new teammates to Belgium, just like the other recruit Quinten Timber and Benjamin Pavard, who is suspended for the match in Bruges. For winter reinforcements, it is not possible to play the last matches of the league phase, in the Champions League or in the Europa League. This is the case for Endrick in Lyon, or for Marc Guéhi and Antoine Semenyo in Manchester City. All these players will be able to be registered for the rest of the competition if their club qualifies.
