OGC Nice: New recruits Kevin Carlos and Tiago Gouveia show their ambitions
OGC Nice's summer transfer window was full of bets.
Between the arrivals of Jansson, Oppong, Abdul Samed and Bah, the profiles all find one thing in common: a desire to launch or relaunch themselves on the Riviera.
The signings of Kevin Carlos and Tiago Gouveia fall into these two categories.
Kevin Carlos: "I am my own role model"
Arriving for €6 million from FC Basel, the 24-year-old Spaniard has just opened his account with the Aiglons. Sure, his brace against Genoa last Friday (3-2 victory) was scored in a friendly, but when you're a center forward, any goal is worth taking.
"When I was younger, my coaches wanted to test me in different positions: in the middle, in defense... but I was always naturally inclined towards attack, that's how it is (laughs)" , remembers the man who did all his training at Huesca, until he tasted the Segunda Division with the first team, in parallel with selections with the team of the autonomous province of Aragon.
Despite playing 163 minutes in Ligue 1 and making two starts upon his arrival against Auxerre and Le Havre, the Ceuta native has yet to score. He has, however, proven that his profile is almost the opposite of the traditional Spanish style of play, far removed from tiki-taka.
"I'm a striker who performs in the box and with his head. Nowadays, there are a lot of strikers who like to combine, but I'm more of a sly guy who hangs around the box and emerges when the opportunity presents itself. Even if I take inspiration from Lukaku or Agüero, I'm my own role model." His three most clear-cut chances with the Gym can attest to the truth of his words: two headers and a missed one-on-one where the Ceuta native had gone deep.
In Switzerland, his atypical build (1.86 m, 96 kg) had already crossed paths with some pretty babies in opposing defenses. The French championship offers him the same physical challenge. "The Super League (Swiss D1), is a very physical championship. That's why I signed in Ligue 1, I know I'll be able to find that here, and I see it as the start of a long career," continues a center forward whose determination transpired in front of the audience, between a few infectious bursts of laughter.
"I want to prove to everyone that I can hurt defenses, and I want people to remember my name. Besides, you could say that the selection (Spanish or Nigerian, he has dual nationality) is a long-term goal. It's not that far off if I give myself the means here. I train hard every day for that."
Tiago Gouveia: "Want to smile again"
The Portuguese player arrived on the eve of the transfer window closing. On loan from Benfica with an €8 million purchase option, he expressed, in French please (see elsewhere), his glaring lack of enjoyment on the football pitch. "In Lisbon, I didn't get the playing time I hoped for. By coming here to a demanding club, like Benfica, I hope above all to rediscover my smile and the passion for playing."
It must be said that the knee injuries (1.5 months of convalescence) and shoulder injuries (3 months) last season "slowed down" his progress, as the reinforcement wanted by Franck Haise himself understands to occupy a wing position.
Because if Gouveia is going to be used on one side, it remains to be seen which one. "I don't have a preferred position, but rather a zone. I can play right or left winger, winger on both sides or even striker. In any case, I like to run and that's good, the coach told me I wouldn't have a choice! I already knew him a little, he had done a very good job with Lens and his attacking style of play suits me very well."
To relaunch his career, at 24, Tiago Gouveia knows he'll have to make a name for himself quickly, even though he's having his first experience abroad. "I don't need time to adapt," the regular starter said during the friendly against Genoa. "I also think that competition in my position isn't a problem; on the contrary, it makes everyone better."
It's up to Franck Haise to decide...
His time in Switzerland: "Leaving Yverdon at 22, leaving my family in Huesca, it wasn't easy. Despite everything, I didn't really have any major moments of doubt. Even though the city is located in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, everyone spoke English in the locker room, so I wasn't able to learn French, but this year I did!"
Playing with another center forward: "It's not a problem for me. We already played part of a match like that with Terem Moffi (against Le Havre, 1-3), Editor's note. What matters most to me is that everyone pulls in the same direction towards a common goal. It's true that I'm a central striker, but if the coach tells me 'right, now you change,' then I change without any problem (laughs)."
His muscle mass: "When I happen to go back to my parents' house for 2-3 days, my mother cooks me the 'special recipe'. It's fufu, a kind of soup that is served in West Africa, since my parents are from Lagos in Nigeria, and which makes me gain a lot of muscle mass, in addition to training regularly."
His goal target this season: "To be honest, I don't have any. I just want the team to do as well as possible, especially in Europe."
His personality: "I'm a guy who will chat with everyone, I like that. And I'm trying to learn French, I ask my teammates a lot of advice. Outside of football, I have fun bowling with my friends, or playing ping-pong."
His two-month stint in France: "At first, I swam, then I asked my mother to sign me up for soccer, it always came naturally. I started quite young, around 10 years old, in Tires. Then at 12, my father was working in Toulouse, and I stayed there for two months. I learned to speak the language here, in addition to a few lessons at school. I played a little soccer, but only in training."
Advice from Neves, Di Maria and Dante: " Before signing here, I spoke with Joao Neves. He told me it was a very good club, that it was good for my development because Ligue 1 is more competitive than the Portuguese championship. I like to talk with experienced players, like I did with Di Maria at Benfica, or here with Dante, because before being players, they are human beings. Knowing what they think, their problems, their advice, is important."
His role models: "I identify a lot in my style of play with Gonçalo Guedes or Salvio who were also at Benfica."
His loan with OA: "I'm not thinking about the option to buy. I just want to show that I can play here, convince the coach and not Benfica. There's no feeling of revenge."
Nice Matin
