Faivre and Jean Lucas, tortuous routes between Brest, Lyon and Monaco
– Make change dimension –
OL recruit on the last day of the transfer window Monday after a remarkable first part of the season in Brittany, Faivre (23 years old) a new step to overcome: confirm his potential within a big club.
With a first leg of L1 with seven goals and four assists, he was one of the best attacking players of the first part of the season. While AC Milan had tried to bring him in the summer, Faivre finally chose Lyon this winter.
“I have goals and ambitions”, he warned on Wednesday during his presentation to the press. “OL are in the round of 16 of C3. That matters, I want to discover something else. I was not impatient to leave Brest but when a project like OL presents itself, we don’t need to think about it more than once”, he explained.
“His start to the season has confirmed all the good that we offer him and his profile was unanimous with the recruitment unit”explained this week Bruno Cheyrou, OL’s recruitment director, who reinvested at least EUR 15 million in Faivre after receiving around EUR 50 million from Bruno Guimaraes’ departure to Newcastle.
Faivre, able to play in the axis or on the right, will necessarily have to cash in on his change of status. In Brest, he was the young star; in Lyon, he will be one element among others, with a lot to prove.
“It’s sure, but I worked to obtain this status in Brest. There are good players in Lyon and I will progress alongside them. I only take positives and that will push me to have my place” , assured the attacking midfielder, ready to challenge Monaco where he played from 2017 to 2020, without ever finding playing time.
“Against Monaco, there will be a surplus of motivation for mei, even if you have to be motivated at every game! But I would like to play a big match,” he said.
– Jean Lucas savors the upturn –
On his side, Jean Lucas is currently going through his best period with Monaco.
Bought 11 million euros in Lyon last summer, the 23-year-old Brazilian has just had three starts, with a goal and two assists, including a delicious pigeon wing for Sofiane Diop’s opener against Clermont (4-0).
A gesture that shows the newfound confidence of the one who had revived in Brest last season, alongside Faivre precisely. “I found my confidence and my football there,” he explained during his Monaco presentation.
At Monaco, the Brazilian hopes to ‘continue to improve’. With Niko Kovac, he regularly had his chance, especially at the end of autumn. Then he disappeared before being revived by the new coach Philippe Clément.
“I hadn’t seen his matches much,” explains the Belgian technician. “I’m told he’s evolved lately. It’s very good and I’m happy with what it does. But he still has a lot to improve. He is young, versatile with technical qualities and very interesting physique, to attack as well as defend.”
Moreover, its hybrid palette is praised by its partners. “He was always a quality player.”, assures Axel Disasi. “He has digested his adaptation. In his last matches, he takes more initiatives, projects forward.”
Facing Lyon, his desire will be increased tenfold. So Clement avoided it. “It’s not Jean Lucas’ match, but Monaco’s.”
However, Disasi knows it: “For him, this match is special. We carry him a little about the fact that he will find his + friends +. Playing against his former club always has a special flavor”, notes the defender. “We hope he will have a great game.”