The season was an absolute nightmare for the Stade de Reims. Historical figure of French football and rather appreciated for his work as an ant since his rise in the elite, the club chaired by Jean-Pierre Caillot has become the laughing stock of the championship. The Champagne President was mocked but above all vilified for his close collaboration with Vincent Labrune, an LFP president who plunged Ligue 1 clubs into a sacred panade with his cataclysmic management of TV rights.
On the ground, the Rémois were ridiculous from start to finish. The SDR was the weakest team in Ligue 1, probably with Montpellier, and thought of staying by dropping his two tauliers in January, Emmanuel Agbadou and Marshall Munetsi, both holders now in Wolverhampton. Samba Diawara players snatched the barragist's place but were sent to the lower level by FC Metz (1-1, 1-3). While logically bowing in the final of the French Cup against PSG (3-0).
The residents of Stade Auguste-Delaune are preparing a season of Ligue 2 which begins in a week, with a first shock against Amiens, Picardy, Monday August 11. They come back from an internship in Japan, where Hiroki Sekine and Junya Ito were able to face their former Kashiwa Reysol club. Keito Nakamura was absent in the land of the rising sun, the chagrin of the Japanese public. In reality, the club's top scorer last season (11 goals in 32 matches) is immersed in a hell of an imbroglio. A scandal for the followers of the Champagne formation.
Caillot does not need to sell Nakamura
While Junya Ito, 32, is about to return to Genk, as part of a transfer of 3 million euros, “Naka” is retained by its leaders, despite the relegation (and a drop in automatic salary of 20 %). Jean-Pierre Caillot and his team told the new coach, Karel Geraerts, that the 25-year-old Japanese attacking midfielder would not leave. “I spoke with management, the club confirmed me that, like me, it was counting on Keito this season, because he is a key player”launched the Belgian technician in union.
The situation is absolutely improbable. Keito Nakamura went to the clash and no longer gives news after providing a medical certificate attesting to a disease. He has no desire to evolve in League 2, one year from the 2026 World Cup. Caillot and his colleagues must say that they have already sold enough after the departures of Yehvann Diouf, Amadou Koné and Nhoa Sangui, who have already brought in 30 million euros. Reims is merciless with his offensive crack. Almost a year ago, on September 15, 2024, Nakamura had offered an unexpected victory in Reims by scoring in the 91st minute in Nantes. The first of his eleven goals. This is how he is thanked.
