Nantes goalkeeper Alban Lafont (24) is set to make his return in Pierre Aristouy’s starting XI against Stade Rennais this Sunday, according to a report this Saturday from L’Equipe.
The France international goalkeeper sustained a serious lung and rib injury during Nantes’ Ligue 1 opening-day home loss against Toulouse. Lafont collided with his post in trying to prevent Zakaria Aboukhlal’s equalizing goal. In Lafont’s absence, back-up goalkeeper Rémy Descamps mostly held his own between the Nantes sticks. Aristouy are unbeaten in their last four Ligue 1 games. “It’s precisely because I have two good goalkeepers that the choice is not easy“, said the Nantes head coach in his pre-game press conference transcribed by the outlet.
L’Equipe adds that Lafont expected to leave Les Canaris this summer, a year before the expiry of his contract. The Loire-Atlantique side had however no intention to part ways with Lafont on a free like they did with Randal Kolo Muani one year ago. The outlet understands that, before agreeing a new deal tying Lafont to FC Nantes until 2027, the club had submitted a €8m bid to New England Revolution goalie Dorde Petrovic – the Serbian eventually joined Chelsea FC.
GFFN | Bastien Cheval