History could have been written very differently for Youssouf Fofana. On September 2, as the transfer window drew to a close in Spain, Sevilla FC officially announced the arrival of Youssouf Fofana in the form of a loan without purchase option negotiated with AC Milan. However, earlier that same day, the player was on his way to make his comeback in France. Olympique Lyonnais had a full agreement with the Lombard team for a loan with a purchase option. This operation ultimately collapsed, the Rhone club severely lacking in funds because of the Malick Fofana case which dragged on dangerously.
This turnaround in the situation is now the absolute happiness of the Andalusian club. Having become the real tactical structure of the eleven led by Luis GarcĂa Plaza, Youssouf Fofana has transformed into a sort of “Yaya Touré” of La Liga. Aligned in a surprising number 10 position, the player shines brightly. Impressively efficient and more essential than ever to his team, he has already compiled a goal and an assist in 5 matches.
Zinédine Zidane carefully follows his return to grace
Against the great Barça, the former Monegasque even found the net. An incredible dynamic that he confirmed during his last match against Getafe this Monday evening (3-3) where he was once again elected man of the match after a monstrous performance. Often restricted during his delicate transition to Italy in a right midfield position where he struggled to express the extent of his talent, the 27-year-old player, whose physique impresses on the other side of the Pyrenees, finally lets the full extent of his technical palette express itself.
Far from limiting himself to a simple role as a ball scratcher, the French international (25 caps – 3 goals) literally has fun on the pitch and proves that he has great qualities as a restarter. Particularly technically fine, it excels at preserving the leather under opposing pressure. A thunderous renaissance which has already caused a lot of ink to flow on the other side of the Pyrenees, but which resonates especially as far as Clairefontaine.
Indeed, ZinĂ©dine Zidane follows the Sevillian playmaker’s XXL performances very closely. The national coach particularly appreciates the new dimension taken by the player, both in his ability to impose intense pressure and to keep the ball in a dominant manner. A few weeks before the next meeting of the Blues, Youssouf Fofana has clearly reshuffled the cards and will be more than attentive to the next list of “ZZ”, with the firm intention of seeing his name appear in capital letters to mark his return to the top.
