The departure of Anthony Lopes from Olympique Lyonnais to join FC Nantes marks the end of an exceptional adventure. Emblematic OL goalkeeper, Lopes leaves his training club after 24 years of loyalty. His teammate and compatriot from Lyon, Rayan Cherki, saluted this club legend through a moving tribute on Instagram.
“Legend”, a strong message from Cherki
Rayan Cherki published two symbolic photos on his social networks: one dating back almost ten years where we see a young Cherki with Lopes, and a second where the two players share the Lyon jersey during a warm-up. The attacking midfielder accompanied these photos with a simple word: “Legend”, a strong statement which testifies to the impact of Anthony Lopes on the rising generations of OL.
The Lyon club formalized this Monday the departure of Lopes, now 34 years old, for a six-month contract at FC Nantes, with an option for two additional years. A decision agreed upon by mutual agreement, but which does not fail to provoke a reaction from supporters and former leaders, in particular Jean-Michel Aulas, who also paid tribute to the Portuguese goalkeeper: “Anthony, you have been and will remain a true champion, a legend for OL. »
A notable start for OL
After playing 489 professional matches with Lyon, Anthony Lopes marked the club’s history with highlights, such as two Coupe de la Ligue finals (2014, 2020) and a Coupe de France final (2024). Despite a difficult start and his gradual sidelining, he remains an unforgettable figure for supporters and his teammates, as highlighted in Rayan Cherki’s vibrant tribute.
