Rennes (AFP)

Behind the star Eduardo Camavinga, a golden generation from the training center is emerging in Rennes, like the defender Brandon Soppy, ready to shake up the hierarchy from the top of his 18 years.

It was not planned at all, but the coronavirus, which removed the holder Hamari Traoré and the red card collected by Sacha Boey, launched Soppy in Ligue 1 from the 34th minute of the first league match in Rennes, on August 22 in Lille (1-1).

"If he was in the group, it is because there were reasons, assured his trainer Julien Stéphan. If I did not hesitate for a second at the time of the expulsion of Sacha to bring him on the ground is that there were reasons. "

And the very young defender (1.81 m for 80 kg), trained in central defense, proved it: without having had time to warm up, he rushed headlong and showed himself to be quite ready. comfortable in the right hallway.

"He showed a lot of personality in this match, he came back without fear, explained Stéphan. He has a great physical presence, he's a force of nature."

- "Very full" -

The following week, Traoré still isolated, Boey suspended, Soppy continued with a first start and a full match at Roazhon Park (3-2 victory).

Even in the shadow of Camavinga's bright goal the neo-Blue, Soppy's power and ease, his impact both defensively and offensively, did not go unnoticed.

The young defender found himself in the typical formation of the Team, while the media began to speak of an interest from Atalanta Bergamo, Leipzig or Celtic Glasgow ...

"He is very complete, involved too. He is listening, greeted his teammate and French international Steven Nzonzi. And for his young age, he is also very strong."

"He could have thought about it a bit during the week, that was not the case at all", greeted Stéphan, who again aligned him last week for the friendly match lost against Benfica in Lisbon (2-0 ).

Each time, he said he appreciated the young man's ability to concentrate.

- Under Stéphan's eye -

Concentration is precisely what Brandon Soppy lacked until now, while his power was already impressive in the reserve team and in the youth selections of the France team.

Arrived in Rennes at the age of 15, from the Paris region, he signed his first professional contract in 2018, at the age of 16.

Among the Blues, he was selected in U16, then he played last year the Euro U17 in May and the World U17 in November, not to mention a victory at the Limoges tournament in September with the U18.

For this last tournament, he was selected in the company of Georginio Rutter, 18-year-old center-forward, another representative of this generation from the training center and whom Stéphan saw grow up when he took care of the reserve of the Breton club.

This summer, the coach invited a dozen of them to the two training camps for the pro group.

He had already launched several into the deep end, such as Yann Gboho, Sacha Boey or Lucas Da Cunha.

Others could show themselves this year like Rutter, the defender Lilian Brassier, 20, or the young Adrien Truffert.

Also 18 years old, this left side impressed during the preparation matches.

For the right lane, Traoré, who has just extended until 2023 in Rennes, will be available again on Sunday in Nîmes.

But so is Soppy.

© 2020 AFP