"We haven't finished our transfer window in terms of departures and arrivals, said Rivère, present alongside coach Lucien Favre. But it's good to have done most of the goal. Faster we'll be done, the better off we'll be."

The club presented the first Nice recruits of the summer on Friday: midfielders Rares Ilie (19), Alexis Beka Beka (21) and Aaron Ramsey (31), defender Mattia Viti (20) and goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel (35).

"We started by recruiting behind and in the middle, said Favre. Now we look ahead. Normally, people should land."

Two attackers are expected.

The Belgian winger from Anderlecht, Francis Amuzu, 22, is "an important lead", confirmed by Rivère.

Just like the French international Marcus Thuram from Borussia Mönchengladbach.

On the other hand, the president rejected the possible arrival of Edinson Cavani.

"Cavani wants to play in Spain, he said. We are going to close the subject. The goal is not to have a headliner but high-performance players who respond to what the coach is asking for."

"Many were worried about our transfer window. It accelerated, added Rivère. Either we rushed to please popular pressure, or we took the time to identify our needs and master the coach's philosophy. We are delighted with the recruits".

Beka Beka: "A great opportunity"

For Favre, whose goal is "always to be in the top three" in two years, the arrival of young Ilie, Viti and Beka Beka "is no coincidence."

Ilie, Romanian attacking midfielder and coach's choice, "undeniably has something", while Viti, from Empoli (Italy), will enter the rotation with Dante.

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Finally the middle Alexis Beka Beka, whom Nice wanted last season, had not "been able to discuss with the coach (Christophe Galtier, editor's note)".

"I seized a great opportunity," he added after a season at Lokomotiv Moscow.

Presented next, the Welshman Aaron Ramsey, who signed one season, has the profile of a bet after two difficult years at Juventus, which he left amicably.

He who has not played since the Wales-Ukraine dam in early June and the qualification for the World Cup assured him to feel good physically.

The same is true for the charismatic Danish goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, who should quickly become an essential part.

Nice opens its Ligue 1 season on Sunday against Toulouse (1 p.m.).

© 2022 AFP