Trained in Lens, who lent him without a purchase option to Rodez until the end of June, the defensive midfielder has the characteristic Ruthenian profile.
As during the presentation to the press of Enzo Zidane on June 30, the television cameras were exceptionally at Paul-Lignon yesterday for that of Jonathan Varane. Who didn’t want to talk to them about his world champion half-brother Raphaël: “Varane is a household name in a very positive way, something that comes up often, but I want to write my own story.” “He surely suffered a little from this comparison all the time“, confided Sylvain Matrisciano, former director of the Lens training center, on a daily basis. The Parisian in 2019. Hence the “J.” added to the back of his shirt. All smiles aside, Gaston, the dad, abounds: “Raphael is something else. I’m just proud to see them both succeed.“
A success that almost stopped with the signing of a first pro contract at RCL, in May, for his youngest, trained there. Because since then, the defensive midfielder has mainly evolved at the low point of 3-4-3 then 4-3-3 from the… reserve, in National 2. He had to wait until December 10 and a 3-2 defeat at Nantes to make his debut with the pros, entering the pitch for barely a minute. “I need to test myself, to discover another level (than the fourth division) and to get the playing time that I didn’t have in Ligue 1 to reach a milestone“, admits the native of Lille. Problem, in his position, Bradley Danger is indisputable in the starting lineup and is almost never replaced during the match by coach Laurent Peyrelade. The 20-year-old hope responds: “I will give 100% to win my place. I am also able to adapt as a torchbearer or in the three-man defense.“
Used rather behind?
In view of the competition in the midfield for two positions, those of Rémy Boissier and Jordan Leborgne already coveted by Lorenzo Rajot and Enzo Zidane, he will a priori shine in the rearguard. Why not from the next meeting, during the reception of Valenciennes on February 5? Because stoppers Julien Célestine, suspended, Joris Chougrani, injured, and Amiran Sanaia, who is treating hip cancer, should not be able to participate. Unless the coach surprises Bradley Danger behind to give the new recruit a chance in his preferred position?
In the meantime, Jonathan Varane (1.85 m, around 70 kg) will show off his panoply in training, starting this morning. “He will bring his grinta, his athletic qualities, recovery and his vista in the use of the ball, assure Gregory Ursule. He is a young person with a great determination in learning, which will suit Laurent. We are mainly going to make him progress tactically.“He who has passed from one blood and gold tunic to another confirms:”I like going to the duel, my main assets are defensive. I also have a good recovery thanks to my training at RC Lens.” “He is very smart tactically, adds Sylvain Matrisciano. Finally, he is a very calm boy, on the field and in everyday life, with very good interpersonal skills. In short, he is an endearing kid.”
From there to making it the new darling of Paul-Lignon?
Rodez keeps “one step ahead”
“Without departure, there will be no arrival” in the winter transfer window, said Raf general manager Gregory Ursule in early January. The club finally changed its mind by loaning out Jonathan Varane. “We were looking for a player to densify our defensive sector, whether behind or in the middle, because because of the pandemic, the accumulation of suspended players, injuries… we sometimes had a reduced workforce”, explains the manager. Particularly within the rearguard, which forced the Ruthenian coach Laurent Peyrelade and his assistant Emerick Darbelet to cobble together one for the trip to Le Havre (0-0) on Saturday. If the rookie presented yesterday can “also play central defender”, is the arrival of a professional axial, or even of another profile, still envisaged by the end of the transfer market, on January 31 in France? Response from Gregory Ursule: “It will depend on our deficiencies. We are always one step ahead so as not to find ourselves in a carafe if elements of the group want to leave.” Without excluding a possible opportunity. “The opportunity makes the thief,” adds the right arm of President Pierre-Olivier Murat. Which also confided on Radio Totem on Monday: “We are looking at others, ready players, of the level, operational right away.” Not necessarily the case for the left side Namakoro Diallo, unemployed since this summer and whose trial in Rodez ended Friday after three weeks. “We told him that we were going to see at the end of the transfer window whether we were going to bring him back definitively or not”, reveals Gregory Ursule. To test by then other players in his case? “As of now, nothing is in the pipeline.”
–
–
/data/photo/2020/01/23/5e292c46d88a9.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)