Will EstĂ©ban Lepaul be the big new addition to ZinĂ©dine Zidane’s first list next Friday? The new coach of the France team unveils his group in a few days before his big debut at the head of the Blues in four Nations League matches in two weeks against Turkey, Belgium twice and Italy (September 25 and 28, October 2 and 5). In any case, the reigning Ligue 1 top scorer is highly appreciated by Jean-Pierre Papin, a French legend in this position.
The story will be very beautiful for the son of the former Auxerrois Fabrice Lepaul. Trained at OL but helmed by Amine Gouiri and William Geubbels within his generation, the striker did not turn pro and emerged in National, at Epinal, before discovering Ligue 2 and Ligue 1 with Angers SCO. He therefore became top scorer in the championship with Rennes (21 goals) ahead of JoaquĂn Panichelli and Mason Greenwood (16 goals each). At 26 years old, the 1.77m right-hander would make up for his return in just a few months!
Papin also likes Ferran Torres
“In terms of number 9 today, I just put Ferran Torres in front. In real number 9, it’s him. Ferran Torres has experience of big clubs, big matches. He’s a real number 9. Lepaul has a slightly retro style and I like that, I find that missing today because the teams play differently. We prefer to go quickly with several players who score goals than to have a specific number 9, which I understand. I like Lepaul’s style, his way of playing, even if he needs to improve. He has just arrived in the first division, but to finish his first season as top scorer and starting with three goals… It reminds me of Steve Savidan”thus launched the 1991 Ballon d’Or, five-time top scorer in D1 with OM, in Rothen ignites Friday.
“It shouldn’t stop at one selection or two”joked Christophe Dugarry, also a speaker on the RMC show, in reference to the only cape of “Savigoal” with the Blues in 2008.
