Ligue 1: Senegalese Boulaye Dia marks his territory
Senegalese striker Boulaye Dia, under the colors of Stade de Reims, August 10, 2019. Daniel Cole / AP Photo
Text by: Nicolas Bamba Follow
6 min
Already author of a hat-trick two weeks ago, Boulaye Dia scored two more goals Sunday, November 8 during the spectacular draw of his club, Reims, in Lens (4-4).
The Senegalese striker is the top scorer in Ligue 1 with eight goals in eight days, ahead of Parisian Kylian Mbappé.
And it increasingly attracts the attention of recruiters.
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The paradox is not new, but it always has something to surprise a little.
Stade de Reims is fighting to stay in Ligue 1 at the start of the 2020-2021 season, while its striker Boulaye Dia is racing at the top of the scorers' standings.
The Senegalese had already settled on the throne with his compatriot from Metz Ibrahima Niane and Parisian Kylian Mbappé (6 goals each) on October 25, after his hat-trick scored in the space of an hour of play in Montpellier ( 4-0).
This November 8, Boulaye Dia is again at the top of the ranking.
And this time, he is alone, with 8 goals scored in as many matches played.
The Rémois was still brilliant in the draw obtained by his club in Lens on Sunday (4-4).
See this post on Instagram
The counter continues to climb!
@boulaye_dia = +2 goals this afternoon, a total of 8 goals since the start of the season!
🔝💪 #RCLSDR
A post shared by Stade de Reims (@stadedereims) on Nov 8, 2020 at 8:57 am PST
From amateur level to Ligue 1 top scorer in two years
On the first of his two goals of the day, the n ° 11 was helped a little by Jean-Louis Leca, the goalkeeper of the Sang et Or, author of a hand fault (54th).
On his second goal, on the other hand, Boulaye Dia did everything solo, for a brilliant action: at the entrance to the area, the striker reviewed three Lensois before going to dribble Leca and score in the cage empty (81st).
A real goal for a confident attacker.
Admittedly, that was not enough to offer the victory to Reims, too crumbly in defense and in added time.
But the Senegalese international, who had his first friendly cap at the beginning of October against Morocco, continues remarkable personal performances.
Author of half of the goals of the Champagne club, he has the particularity of having all scored away.
Boulaye Dia's development is impressive.
In 2018, at the age of 21, he played at the amateur level, at Jura Sud Foot, after an atypical career and unsuccessful touches with the training centers of AS Saint-Etienne and Olympique Lyonnais when he was a teenager.
Convincing in National 2, the striker caught the eye of Reims, promoted to Ligue 1 in 2018-2019.
For his first season, Boulaye Dia appeared little by little (18 championship matches, 3 goals).
During the 2019-2020 financial year truncated by the Covid-19, it gained momentum (24 league matches, 7 goals).
And this fall, he is driving the counters crazy.
Reims striker Boulaye Dia celebrating a goal scored at the Parc des Princes against PSG, September 25, 2019. Michel Euler / AP Photo
Recruited by a more upscale club this winter?
A few weeks ago, Boulaye Dia's future was uncertain.
His performance in Reims had already attracted clubs interested in his profile during the summer transfer window.
Olympique de Marseille had inquired about him.
And Stade de Reims, aware of the market value of its player, was ready to discuss a departure.
The English club Brighton was also in the running, indicates the daily
L'Équipe
, according to which the leaders of Reims were waiting around 10 million euros to accept a departure.
Ultimately, after negotiations until the last day of the transfer window, the striker who will celebrate his 24th birthday on November 16 has stayed.
“
I am not frustrated because I had mentioned the possibility of staying in Reims (...).
I'm fine here, I'm ready to have a good season,
”he told the Téléfoot channel.
But if the more upscale formations come back to the charge during the winter transfer window?
Everything will be possible.
Mathieu Lacourt, the managing director of Reims, confirmed it to the
Téléfoot
channel
on October 6, just after the summer transfer window closed: “
As part of our project, we must be respectful of the exit vouchers that the we give to the players.
If a great project presents itself for him in January and we find it economically, he will be able to benefit from it.
Now, we would be delighted to be able to keep it all season.
"
Boulaye Dia
says she"
wanted to stay
"but"
does not know what tomorrow will bring
. "
If he continues to stack goals, the future looks bright.
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