Stade Rennais did not wait for the 2024 winter transfer window to bring new blood to its team. On November 12, the residents of Roazhon Park formalized the arrival of Jorge Sampaoli, in place of Julien Stéphan. The Argentinian, who knows Ligue 1 perfectly since his time on the bench of Olympique de Marseille, quickly announced the color at a press conference. In particular, there was talk of the winter transfer window. “Yes, we talk a lot with the president and the sporting director. We have an agreement on future and current needs, otherwise I would not be here, to change history and have a team that is more ambitious.
Sampaoli appreciates Mandanda
Strong words from El Pelado. In the process, the sports director, Frédéric Massara, confided: “it’s about making a diagnosis of the situation which is unsatisfactory, it doesn’t please anyone. We must reverse this dynamic and revive a very insufficient team. We will do everything and if there is a need to intervene in the transfer window, the owners will support the club. We are not happy with the team, we are not talking about the transfer window. We have a team that does not reflect what we expected. After these unsatisfactory performances, we see the public pushing, it’s an audience that deserves more.” Among the positions targeted by Rennes management, there is in particular that of goalkeeper.
Last week, Sampaoli spoke about the Steve Mandanda case. “For me, Steve is performing well, he has no responsibility for our latest results. He is a very professional player for whom I have enormous respect, and today, I don’t really ask myself questions about the identity of the goalkeeper. If there are positions that we should think about, they are positions other than that of goalkeeper. How to close the file? Not necessarily. This Friday, The Team gave a long update on the Bretons’ winter transfer window. The sports daily notably revealed that the SRFC is scrutinizing the goalkeeper market and is looking in particular towards Paris Saint-Germain.
Arnau Tenas surveyed
There, Arnau Tenas’ profile appeals internally. Initial exchanges took place with the Spanish goalkeeper, who is number 3 in the hierarchy of Parisian goalkeepers behind Gianluigi Donnarumma and Matvey Safonov. However, Luis Enrique, who signed him in the capital, is counting on him and telling him to be ready. Especially since the two other goalkeepers did not completely reassure “Lucho”. Tenas, who has not yet played this season, is under contract until 2026, had been approached in particular by LOSC in the past.
This time, it’s Rennes who takes the temperature. The Team specifies, however, that we have not yet gone beyond the stage of gathering information. This winter or next summer at the latest, the Bretons could change things at this specific position. Regarding Steve Mandanda, he should still be Rennais whatever happens until the end of the 2024-25 season according to our information. Under contract until next June, the 39-year-old goalkeeper has the trust of Jorge Sampaoli, whom he knew in the Marseille city.
