The tearful farewell of a legend. Established this Friday with OGC Nice during the Ligue 1/Ligue 2 return play-off against AS Saint-Étienne (4-1), Dante could not contain his emotion after the match. Beyond keeping the Aiglons in the elite, the club captain played the last match of his very long career, in an Allianz Riviera behind closed doors.
“It’s a lot of emotionwhispered the Brazilian in the mixed zone. Honestly, I haven’t realized it yet.
I’m relieved because it was important to us, with the whole team, to keep the club in L1. For the employees, for our supporters, for the city. Nice does not belong to L2. We dotted the i. I’m proud of all that. »
A favorite of the public, Dante inevitably sent a word to those who have supported him for ten seasons. “I hope they can make the most of it to be able to forget a little about this very difficult season. » And expressed regrets at the end of a 2025-2026 financial year during which Nice suffered enormously.
Dante: “It hurts me”
“The hardest season of my career? We can say yesconceded the former Bayern Munich man. Because there were injuries. When you are 42, you no longer have the same means as before. You want to help, you can’t. It was complicated, not just physically, but emotionally, mentally. »
And the very probable future coach of the Bavarian U23s concludes. “It hurts me that we haven’t been able to have a moment to smile with our supporters this season. We had difficult times and this would have been the time for us to go into their arms, to celebrate, to sing with them. That’s how it is. I’m not perfect but they can be sure that I gave everything for the club. Today, I am very happy to leave this club where I found it. »
