SM Caen. Norman Bassette’s adviser, unhappy with his playing time, awaits action
By Aline Chatel
Published on
He is the gondola head of the 2004 generation. Norman Bassette was one of the great actors in the epic of Malherbe Caen Stadium in the Gambardella Cup last season. His performances earned him his first professional contract with the club, which placed his trust in him a little over two years ago. Since then, the 18-year-old center-forward has been chomping at the bit. Norman Bassette only appeared four times in Ligue 2, accumulating a measly thirty minutes with the professional team.
The Belgian is the symbol of a talented generation but not sufficiently able to be integrated into the deep end in the eyes of Stéphane Moulin. “I hear a lot about young people, says Yohan Eudeline. They are with us, they are protected by their contract. They were made to be in the squad on the first part of the season. There’s no reason they can’t arrive in the second half of the season. They are in the project. They will have the playing time they need. »
C. Dikamona: “As far as actions are concerned, there is not much”
This speech, Clévid Dikamona, adviser to Norman Bassette, welcomes it with a certain restraint.
The president (Olivier Pickeu, editor’s note) a real project for Norman. But as far as actions are concerned, there is not much.
Little used in Ligue 2, sometimes as left piston in training, Norman Bassette remained on the bench against Vire in the Coupe de France. He seems to have taken it badly. “We had discussions with the club a year ago, six months ago, recalls Clévid Dikamona. We are still at the same point. Beyond the case of Norman, one can wonder about the management of young people in general in Caen. »
Y. Eudeline: “The nature of the coach is to protect young players”
Stade Malherbe has not skimped on professional contracts among the finalists of the Coupe Gambardella. None play. “There may be a timing to launch young people, says Yohan Eudeline. The manager has already started a lot of youngsters in the past. His nature is to protect them and launch them at the best time. “For the sporting director, this is a non-issue.
After two negative results, we will say that we do not play our young people. It’s a judgment at the moment T. Our boys are progressing and we will see them in the second part of the season. We don’t worry internally.
Clévid Dikamona appears much more circumspect. “Norman has always adhered to the discourse calling for patience. Today, it is more difficult to believe it. It is not a problem of impatience but of projection. We have no visibility. »
S. Moulin: “We see him every week in training…”
What Stéphane Moulin saw, before having to take a step back for personal reasons, was the rather weak performance of the scorer. “Norman Bassette has not yet scored a goal this season, we said at the beginning of October, forgetting the only one but scored by the player in National 2. We see him every week in training. If we think he should play, he will play. Since then, Norman Bassette has scored a second goal with the reserves and six, in three games, with the U19 Nationals.
He couldn’t play much in N2 (five games, editor’s note) but he is in the transition times. In selection, he was also decisive. What more do we ask of him?
Age is not an argument, believes Clévid Dikamona. “Football has evolved. Today, there are 2005s playing in other clubs. How can Caen, with a generation of Coupe Gambardella finalists, not show the way? »
C. Dikamona: “Have we tried Norman? »
At a time when the club is still looking to strengthen in attack, the player’s adviser wonders. “Have we tried Norman?” Why did we sign him pro, then? “As with other players, like Tidiam Gomis, Stade Malherbe especially wanted to protect his hope. But at the start of the winter transfer window, Norman Bassette is stamping its feet.
The idea is to find a solution that is both good for the club and for Norman. I think the club is happy to have Norman. But I’m not convinced that Norman is completely satisfied in Caen.
Clévid Dikamona imagines three possible outcomes for his player. “Either on a discussion which will allow the situation to be unblocked because we will expressly tell Norman what we expect of him so that he has playing time. Either the club directs us towards a loan. Either on a discussion so that we turn to a club, a coach who wants to do post-training and accompany Norman in the professional world. Norman Bassette is under contract until June 2025.
Y. Eudeline: “You have to take it as an experience”
“I would be the happiest in the world if he stayed in Caen and his situation improved,” said the former Stade Malherbe player. According to Yohan Eudeline, the prospects are clear. “There is no reason for Norman to leave, he sweeps. We will have a quiet discussion with him. Obviously he has a great desire to play. We all know it’s going to happen. Norman must bide his time. It is also the apprenticeship of the professional world. Take it as an experience. »
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