"He's showing his true colors": OGC Nice bets on Badredine Bouanani for this new season

The break hasn't broken his momentum. Badredine Bouanani has started the summer preseason the way he finished last season (3 assists, 1 goal in the last 5 matches): by being decisive.

Franck Haise did not really appreciate the first half in which he played against Aubagne on Wednesday (3-0) , except for "the two goals scored" .

Sanson 's shot, with a flat-footed volley, was ruled out for non-existent offside, but Clauss finally opened the scoring a minute later, well played in by Bouanani.

Fixing the ball at his feet, a small shift in the area and the run of his teammate, a sequence which allowed the Algerian international to add an assist to his double scored against Cercle Bruges, four days earlier .

On the first goal, the number 19 had been brilliant in another register: a deep shot, followed by a powerful strike at the near post and first intention.

"When you have this great ability to eliminate in one-on-one situations, you obviously like to have the ball at your feet. Making more runs without the ball, getting into depth, that's what he was missing to vary his game, broaden his range , observes Didier Digard , the coach who welcomed him to the Côte before launching him into L1. I loved working with this youngster because he's intelligent, hard-working and passionate. And well supported too."

The current Le Havre coach refers to a father he met in the early months of "Badr's" Nice adventure, when Lucien Favre preferred to let his potential express itself with the Digard reserve team.

"After two matches (3 goals in N2), I told Julien (Fournier, ex-GM) that he had nothing to do with me. I was afraid he would get bored. The father reassured me, he was comfortable with the idea that his son needed time."

After throwing his favorite threat at the recruiter who had advised him to set his sights on the ex-Lille player - "If you mess up, you're fired" - Julien Fournier made the right decision in the summer of 2022.

It is enough to recall the actions of his successors: Florent Ghisolfi extended Bouanani's contract until 2027 a few weeks after his arrival, Florian Maurice pushed the cursor to 2029 last October.

The club offered him contracts of trust despite a mixed six-month loan to Lorient (January 2024). But that didn't stop Franck Haise from leaving him out of the league starting lineup for three months, from January to April, to encourage him to do more. In terms of retreat and running volume, among other things.

"Badr doesn't need to be nudged, he's a kid who needs to have things explained to him," Digard continued. "When the coach asked him to do more, he showed progress in his combination play, in his inside runs, and in his choices too. With his listening skills and superb shooting ability, he's showing his true colors."

The former French international (from U16 to U19) has fond memories and gratitude for the club that gave him his chance. "When he wasn't training with the pros, he came to watch the reserve team training. Only kids who trained at the club do that, normally! He really wanted to immerse himself in the club's identity, and he put a lot of effort into it."

The first weeks of preparation have apparently shown a more muscular Bouanani physically , a consequence of his seriousness off the pitch as well.

Talented and now more mature, the Algerian reached his highest market value on Transfermarkt after a season with 4 goals and as many assists in 26 appearances and on the eve of his 21st birthday.

"It's nothing compared to what he will bring to the club when he fully exploits his talent," concluded Didier Digard, while dreading the upcoming reunion on the third day of Ligue 1, at the end of August in Normandy.