Stade Rennais players Daniel Rugani, Alfred Gomis and Dalbert (in the background) after their presentation at Roazhon Park on October 6, 2020. -

C. Allain / 20 Minutes

  • Stade Rennais has recruited three players who have played in Serie A.

  • Juve defender Daniele Rugani believes that Ligue 1 is more physical, more technical, but less tactical than the Italian league.

  • The arrival of Florian Maurice as sports director has “internationalized” the recruitment of Rennes.

At the end of the Champions League draw, we dared to compare the ambitious Stade Rennais with the delicious Atalanta Bergamo, a surprise guest in the final stages last season.

A few days later, the Breton club ended its endless transfer window with a recruitment with a strong Italian accent.

In search of several defensive elements, Rennes did not hesitate to draw from Serie A clubs to strengthen its back lines.

With Juve defender Daniele Rugani, Brazilian Inter and Fiorentina Dalbert and Senegalese goalkeeper Alfred Gomis, who has long played on the other side of the Alps, Stade Rennais has found its weapons.

Presented Tuesday at Roazhon Park, the three recruits (Belgian Jérémy Doku left for selection) conversed in Italian at the edge of the lawn.

Fortunately, the rain invited itself on the stadium, reminding the actors that the scene was going well in Brittany.

Proud of my new adventure, ready to take part in a new challenge 💪🔥 #AllezRennes #Ruga #RougeEtNoir #SRFC #StadeRennais pic.twitter.com/Qoc3WBJkVp

- Daniele Rugani (@DanieleRugani) October 6, 2020

This Italian influence appears rather unusual in Ligue 1. Apart from PSG, few French clubs have drawn in Serie A in recent years.

“I spoke with Gigi Buffon and Adrien Rabiot.

They told me a lot of good things about the French championship.

I have the image of a difficult, very physical league, where there is a lot of speed.

Maybe even harder than the Italian championship for a defender because it's more technical.

In Italy, it's more tactical, ”said central defender Daniele Rugani.

The latter dared to leave Juventus believing that he "deserves more" than what his club offered him last year.

“The words of esteem convinced me.

I needed to feel alive, important.

Here, there is a big project, ”he explains.

"I'm happy to be back in Ligue 1"

At his side, the defender on loan from Juve could find another former Serie A player. Spotted three years ago in Nice, Dalbert caught the eye of Inter, who had spent nearly 30 million. euros to afford it, before lending it to Fiorentina a year later.

“I arrived at a difficult time.

I discovered a very tactical championship.

In France, we played ball a lot, I liked that.

I'm happy to be back in Ligue 1, ”admitted the left side Auriverde in good French, recruited following the injury of Faitout Maouassa.

Daniele Rugani follows a logical progression, after having rubbed shoulders with Cristiano Ronaldo, he climbs a level with Adrien Hunou.

- Pitre (@PitreCech) October 2, 2020

Little fan of Italian, coach Julien Stéphan is currently relying on his new goalkeeper Alfred Gomis to act as the interpreter.

Transferred to Dijon a year ago, the Senegalese goalkeeper arrived in Italy when he was 3 years old, before being enlisted by Torino as a young goalkeeper and being on loan throughout Italy.

"We were looking for a player profile that is important in the locker room to replace Edouard [Mendy, who left for Chelsea for 25 million euros].

Alfred was our priority ”, assures Florian Maurice, sports director of Stade Rennais.

The appointment of the former Lyonnais in May is not unrelated to this "internationalization" of the recruitment of the Breton club.

"I'm not here to go only to the foreign market, but sometimes you have to try to look elsewhere when you can't find what you're looking for in France".

Florian Maurice admitted to “following for a long time” the Italian market.

“I had spotted Daniele [Rugani] when I was in Lyon.

I had already alerted on his profile ”.

The new sports director this time managed to bring him in but only in the form of a loan without an option to buy.

“For him, it's a new course, it's the first time he's left his country.

But his club was not ready to sell him.

We sometimes do what we can at the end of the transfer window.

"Rather talkative in front of the press, Florian Maurice welcomed the transfer window" coherent "of Stade Rennais.

If he lost Raphinha in the last hours, the Breton club wants to be confident about the quality of its workforce.

"We must not see ourselves too beautiful," warns President Nicolas Holveck.

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