Habib Diallo has scored 7 goals and delivered 3 assists since joining Racing in early October.

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Alain Robert / SIPA

  • Habib Diallo returns to the Saint-Symphorien stadium in Metz on Sunday, four months after his transfer to RC Strasbourg.

  • What is the current record of the Senegalese striker in Racing, who has invested 10 million euros to attract him?

    "He walked hard from the start", judges his coach Thierry Laurey, even if he has had a scoreless period of five games.

  • Statistically, the Senegalese have scored 7 goals and distributed 3 assists in 21 games played this season.

"You put ten million, you have a good player ... Incredible!

“After the demonstration against Nîmes (5-0) in early January, Thierry Laurey could not hide his satisfaction with Habib Diallo.

The RC Strasbourg coach could rejoice: the striker had just scored his sixth goal since arriving in Alsace in early October.

The 25-year-old Senegalese is now on seven goals, but none in his last five games.

What tarnish its record before the reunion with FC Metz on Sunday in Moselle?

“Yes, he's stalling a bit right now.

He created opportunities but did not transform them, it undermined him a bit, ”continues the technician, before quickly defending his player.

“Even though it's only 150 kilometers between the two cities, it was not easy for him to get here.

He has changed universes.

[...] And he walked hard from the start.

"

From his first minutes at La Meinau itself, with a goal against Lyon and then another during the following Ligue 1 day in Brest.

Racing supporters then discovered an attacker who was as discreet in the game as he was clinical against the goalkeeper.

And a convincing addition to Ludovic Ajorque, with the latter in a more unhooked role and Diallo in that of finisher.

"We ask him to go back to the hallway, not to play there"

A few months later, the picture has blurred a bit.

Blame it on falling statistics, to which we must add 3 assists, but also ... to his coach.

In recent matches, the system set up by Thierry Laurey has seen the Senegalese often find himself on the right side.

"We ask him to move back into the lane, not to play there", nuance the coach who thus benefits from the good defensive dispositions of his number 23. One of his many other qualities.

"He is not a big size (1.86 m for 79 kg) but he keeps the ball well with his back to the goal, is good with his head and of course skilful in front of the goal", continues his partner Lamine Koné by evoking a "Nice boy who doesn't necessarily speak a lot".

And who does not doubt much either, to believe Philippe Gaillot.

The deputy general manager of FC Metz knows the native of Thiès well, who arrived in Lorraine in 2013 at the age of 18.

“He had a very difficult start here and he grew up slowly.

He is a very strong person mentally, he has a lot of self-confidence.

He does not ask himself many questions, he is moving forward, ”adds the former defender, sure that the Senegalese will soon find his way back.

“Phases like that, he's had and always got through.

"

Our file on RC Strasbourg

Thierry Laurey is also convinced of this.

Habib Diallo's next two fingers up celebration is coming very soon.

“You don't have to worry about not seeing him the whole game.

He is a goalscorer and it will come back.

Perhaps in his old garden in Metz from Sunday.

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