Emiliano Martínez (30) has continued his mockery of France forward Kylian Mbappé (24) during Argentina’s open-top bus parade, celebrating their World Cup victory. 

Argentina beat Les Bleus in Sunday’s World Cup final in Qatar on penalties after a 3-3 draw. In a video widely shared on social media post-match, World Cup Golden Glove winner Martínez was seen mocking Mbappé, calling for “a minute’s silence” for the player before immediately continuing the celebrations. 

During an open-top bus parade through Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires, Martínez has now been pictured holding a toy baby with a photo of Mbappé stuck to its face. Videos of a fan with a burning coffin with Mbappé face stuck on it have also been shared on social media. 

Mbappé, who won the Golden Boot, after scoring eight goals over the course of the tournament, scored a hat-trick in the World Cup final. Including his goal in the penalty shootout, Mbappé beat Martínez on four occasions over the course of the final. 

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This is taken from the GFFN 100, our leading 150-page FREE publication ranking the best 100 players in France, see the full list and read every profile right here.

‘Presidential candidate’ was not the title Rennes midfielder Benjamin Bourigeaud was aiming for last season.

However, amid a career-best campaign, the 28-year-old’s form was such that Rennes fans with a sense of humour added Bourigeaud’s name to their blot papers during France’s presidential election in April. One even added a poster to Twitter that implored: “Vote Bourigeaud.” Bourigeaud may have been pipped by Emmanuel Macron in the end, but his year has been victory-filled nonetheless.

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Thanks to shrewd business from sporting director Florian Maurice and the flowing football engineered by coach Bruno Genesio, Rennes have brought more joy to Ligue 1 than any other team in 2022 but Rennes’ countless flowing team goals have arguably been surpassed by Bourigeaud’s form as the headline.

The 28-year-old Frenchman has long been a consistent, skilful creator but his vision, astute movement and interplay have been set free by Genesio’s freewheeling style, as well as the fresh influx of imagination alongside him.

Finishing the season in double figures for league goals and assists (12 assists, 11 assists) the swaggering Bourigeaud’s effect on Genesio’s team has increased exponentially this year. Although aided by the intelligence and versatility of Rennes’ forward line, no one in Ligue 1 is as deadly from crosses or set pieces. The flat, whipped nature of Bourigeaud’s deliveries is strikingly reminiscent of a young David Beckham’s.

Considering Martin Terrier’s prolific year, the low-key excellence of Flavien Tait and some irresistible performances from Lovro Majer, it’s no minor compliment to say Bourigeaud is now Rennes most important player, which Genesio clearly recognises, making Bourigeaud the sole un-droppable man, playing 48 games last season across all competitions. His only absence, a Coupe de France tie in January was due to illness.

Aside from Kylian Mbappé, no one produced a more effective, more consistent, or imposing individual campaign in France last term, only Lionel Messi and Mbappé managed more Ligue 1 assists and just Mbappé and Dimitri Payet provided more short-creating actions. Most impressively, Bourigeaud’s 21/22 expected assists tally of 13.2 was the highest across Europe’s top five leagues.

According to FBRef, in France, he also finished with the fifth most progressive passes, the third most crosses, the most successful crosses and the second most passes into the area. A record of 121 key passes was the most impressive tally, however, being by far the most in Ligue 1. Marseille’s Dimitri Payet was second with 101, while Jonathan Clauss’ 76 made the Lens wing-back a distant third.

With just a year on his current contract come last summer, potential suitors sensed an opportunity with Real Betis, Roma and especially Lazio interested in the player but, despite it seemingly likely he would leave, Bourigeaud was eventually convinced to stay, signing a new deal until 2026. France coach Didier Deschamps also seems to covet the midfielder, despite not yet calling him up, Deschamps pre-selecting both Bourigeaud and Rennes teammate Martin Terrier for his France squad ahead of four June Nations League games.

After a slow start to the new season for both player and club, an upturn in results has been mirrored by Bourigeaud’s improving performances since the summer. Over 21 Ligue 1 Europa League games so far, the 28-year-old has contributed seven assists and two goals. His 2022 total of 27 club goal contributions puts the Rennes midfielder equal seventh among Frenchman playing in Europe’s top five leagues, level with Bayer Leverkusen’s Moussa Diaby and Olivier Giroud of AC Milan. That tally is stronger than Moussa Dembélé (26), Ousmane Dembélé (25) and Antoine Griezmann (16), despite playing a similar number of games.

Few have matched his unerring consistency and level of influence on any one team across Europe in 2022. Bourigeaud may not be president of France, but he does end the year as the undisputed King of Roazhon Park.

Adam White | GFFN

In an interview with Ouest France, Rennes head coach Bruno Genesio, indicated that midfielder Baptiste Santamaria is ahead of schedule with the rehabilitation of his injured ankle,  “Baptiste is ahead of what was planned at the start. We will see how his ankle reacts.”

Baptiste Santamaria tore ligaments in his right ankle in a match against Auxerre in September. The player was operated on a few days later in Bordeaux. At the time, the recovery was estimated to be between four and five months, a return at best in mid-January, at worst in mid-February.

It was reported that the player is already walking without crutches and doing individual workouts in adherence to his rehabilitation plan. Luckily for the team, the midfield is one of their deepest positions. Regardless, Rennes will certainly benefit from his return. 

Santamaria is a true central midfielder who is a key player in Rennes’ 4-4-2 system. The 27-year-old is a truly skillful complete midfielder who fits Genesio’s system perfectly with efficient passing, high work-rate and defencive contribution. Rennes have been one of the most exciting teams in Ligue 1 this season. With their depth, and the hopeful early return of Santamaria, they will look to finish the season in top form. 

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Ahead of the team’s trip to Troyes this week, Nantes manager Antoine Kombouaré has confirmed that two defenders would be leaving the club this upcoming transfer window, namely Fábio and Dennis Appiah.

As reported in RMC Sport, the Coupe de France-winning coach confirmed that he had opened the door for the full-back pair to leave, with neither having been present at the squad’s last training session.

Kombouaré indicated that both were intent on moves away this winter. Fábio is set to return to Brazil, as his twin brother and former Manchester United teammate Rafael already has, with a move to Grêmio on the cards. The 32-year-old had been at the club since 2018 after signing from Middlesbrough.

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Appiah, according to Ouest-France, is expected to join Saint-Étienne, who are currently fighting for survival in Ligue 2 after their relegation last year and subsequent points deduction. The versatile 30-year-old previously turned out for Monaco and Caen.

L’Équipe report this afternoon that Nantes are interested in signing an additional attacking option, namely in Jordan international winger Moussa Al-Tamari, who currently plays at Belgian side OH Leuven.

The 25-year-old has half a year remaining on his current deal, having been at the club since 2020 after signing from APOEL Nicosia.

In 18 league matches this season, he has notched three goals – already matching his tally from last year – as well as two assists. The number eleven also has 42 caps for his country, and nine international goals.

Les Canaris are also set to see a number of departures this window, with manager Antoine Kombouaré having already confirmed that full-backs Fábio and Dennis Appiah would be leaving the club, at their request. The former is closing in on a return to Brazil with Grêmio, while Appiah, as reported by Ouest-France, is set to join Ligue 2 side Saint-Étienne.

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Fourteenth-placed Ligue 1 side FC Nantes are in the market for a centre-back following stalwart Nicolas Pallois’ knee injury. L’Equipe are reporting that the Loire-Atlantique outfit are considering a move for the out-of-favour Olympique Lyonnais defender Damien Da Silva.

The French 34-year-old joined Lyon from Stade Rennais 18 months ago on a two-year deal, but he failed to prove a key player as neither former OL manager Peter Bosz and incumbent Laurent Blanc seem to greatly rely on him.

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Da Silva played only seven Ligue 1 games this season and he is now unlikely find more game time as Lyon signed experienced Croatian center-back Dejan Lovren (33) during this winter transfer window.

The question now is whether OL will cash in this month or allow Da Silva to run down the remainder of his contract. Ouest-France add that FC Nantes did consider a move for Da Silva, but the outlet believes the former Stade Rennais man reportedly favors a move abroad.

Meanwhile, FC Nantes’ manager Antoine Kombouaré has revealed that promising left-back Quentin Merlin (20) suffered a partial hamstring tear that will keep him on the sidelines for at least two months. The French U21 international will undergo surgery next Tuesday.

Speaking in a press conference ahead of Lyon’s home match against Strasbourg striker Alex Lacazette said that the team is having a difficult time because not all players seem to have confidence in themselves. The following was transcribed by RMC Sport.

Lacazette says despite working well during the week and communicating as a team, the players are struggling to transfer that to their performances in games “It is complicated, because we feel that not everyone is confident, we work well in the week in training but we cant do it during matches.”

Lyon’s top scorer then goes on to say “Every game is different. We improve some aspects of our play but then we drop in others. It’s inconsistent.” He believes that the only way to overcome this issue is to achieve a win and build on it with another, saying that “that’s the only cure.”

Lyon are currently eighth in Ligue 1 under new manager Laurent Blanc, who has reached the same amount of wins as his predecessor Peter Bosz in nine games (four) – with two draws and two losses to add to his record. Lacazette is currently Les Gones’ top scorer with ten goals.

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In a day of Coupe de France action packed with giant-killings – Ligue 2 Rodez overturning a two-goal deficit to Monaco, Nice losing to third-tier Le Puy-en-Velay – it was Strasbourg Koenigshoffer who made the headlines as they saw off Clermont, a five-division gap separating the two.

The sixth-tier side held the top-flight outfit to a goalless draw before winning the penalty shootout. The Régional 1 side are the only team from Strasbourg left in the competition after their Ligue 1 neighbours were knocked out by Angers the day before.

A stoic defensive performance would fend off all of the attacks that were coming from an Auvergne side who were fresh off beating Lyon in league action.

As reported in this morning’s Téléfoot, the lower league side’s players watched a video of Kylian Mbappé before heading out onto the pitch – the World Cup top scorer’s words ostensibly having the desired effect for the club’s coaching staff.

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Foot Mercato report this afternoon that Dango Ouattara, along with his fellow Lorient forward Terem Moffi, is the target of interest from the Premier League, notably from Everton, who have already put an offer on the table.

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The Toffees have submitted a bid worth €20m for the Burkina Faso international, with talks now ongoing between the two clubs.

Mohamed Toubache-Ter had indicated yesterday that the Breton side had also seen an offer come in from Leicester for a similar fee excluding bonuses, the Foxes’ bid having been turned down by Les Merlus. A third bid worth €17m has come in from an unnamed club in Germany, which has also been rejected.

Ouattara has been a key part of Lorient’s surprise run at the European spots this season, his five goals and five assists making him a crucial part of Régis Le Bris’ side that at one point in autumn was even outright second-placed behind PSG.

Dango Ouattara (20) has completed his move from FC Lorient to Premier League side Bournemouth for a €27m, which includes €5m in bonuses. 

The Burkina Faso international has signed a five-and-a-half-year deal with the Cherries. The move was facilitated by Les Merlus’ integration into a multi-club structure, which includes Bournemouth. Bill Foley recently bought the English side and quickly added Lorient to the Black Knight Football and Entertainment enterprise. Foley bought has acquired a €33m stake in the club. 

In a season of surpassed expectations at Lorient, Ouattara has been one of the standout stars. In 18 Ligue 1 games, the winger has six goals and six assists. 

As a result of their success, Lorient are in danger of losing further assets this winter. Enzo Le Fée is also linked with a move to Bournemouth, however, as revealed by sources contacted by Get French Football News, the player himself is uninterested in a move, and hasn’t appreciated attempts made by certain stakeholders to attempt to move him in the direction of the Premier League club. 

 Terem Moffi, meanwhile, is heavily linked with a move to Ligue 1 rivals OGC Nice. Les Aiglons yesterday submitted a third offer for the Nigerian striker. 

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