Croatian midfielder Lovro Majer is one of the revelations of the season in Ligue 1, he who left Dinamo Zagreb last summer for a first experience outside Croatia.
His trainer Bruno Genesio praises his player's quick adaptation qualities but specifies that he still needs "to be reassured".
Courted by major European clubs, the one who is often compared to Luka Modric wishes for the time being to stay in Rennes.
He sketched out a few sentences in a shy but rather fluent French to talk about his daily life at Stade Rennais.
Before switching to English when he was asked about the form of his team.
Nevertheless.
In a few months in France, the Croatian Lovro Majer has better basic French than many foreign players who have been playing for several years in Ligue 1. “It was really very hard at the start, but now I'm really happy.
I progress, I understand, I speak better with the people who work at the club and the players”.
A rather quick learning curve for a player who had never played outside of Croatia.
And proof, according to his coach, of his perfect integration into the Stade Rennais collective.
“I think he adapted very quickly.
He is progressing well in French.
It shows everything he is doing to get involved and fully integrate into the club's project, ”said Bruno Genesio.
Transferred last summer for 12 million euros, the former Dinamo Zagreb player caused a sensation during his first appearances in the Rennes jersey, delighting the public with a silky left foot.
A little over six months after his arrival, the one who is often compared to Luka Modric took part in 25 league games for a total of three goals and eight assists.
And obviously, he feels very well in Ligue 1.
“It was a new chapter in my life so it wasn't easy, but I felt at home here from the start.
The city is really beautiful, the people are nice, they love football, the stadium is amazing.
The players helped me a lot to integrate.
I feel really good here, I'm confident for this end of the season.
»
His performances did not escape the European cadors who came to the information.
“It's nice to see that big names are interested in you.
But I'm not focusing on that, I'm very happy here in Rennes, ”says the Croatian.
Under contract in Rennes until 2026, the 23-year-old midfielder already has two goals in just five selections for the Vatreni (the flamboyant, nickname of the Croatian national team).
Saturday evening, Lovro Majer will find Saint-Etienne (9 p.m.), which he had demolished in the first leg by delivering three assists for his striker Martin Terrier.
An excellent memory for the left-hander, who delights when he evolves into a false number 10, breaking the lines with his technique.
And who seems less comfortable when swerving to the side, where his lack of speed can penalize him.
“What I prefer is to be as close as possible to the opposing goal.
That's where I feel most comfortable,” admits the Croatian, who has learned to share midfield with Flavien Tait.
9 - Lovro Majer 🇭🇷 has delivered 9 penultimate assists before a goal in Ligue 1 this season, more than any other player in Europe's top 5 leagues in 2021/22.
Trigger.
pic.twitter.com/8gxgV404GC
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) April 11, 2022
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After a thunderous start to the season, Lovro Majer has seemed to lack juice in recent months, struggling in particular against athletic circles in Monaco or Strasbourg.
Nothing worrying to listen to Bruno Genesio, who strives to reassure a Majer sometimes taken by doubt.
“In Strasbourg, he was very marked because on the corner which brings the second goal, it is he who loses the ball.
He is so perfectionist and ambitious that he is very angry with himself.
I told him that it happened, that he was not responsible for this second goal.
We can see that he needs that, to be reassured.
It remains a young player who arrives for the first time in a foreign club with a new language, a completely different championship.
It takes time.
»
Author of one of its best seasons in Ligue 1, Stade Rennais continues to alternate the excellent and the less good, exploding the defenses of the poorly ranked but struggling against the big teams.
A problem that will have to be corrected quickly if the club wants to stay on the podium.
After receiving Sainté, the Bretons will go to Nantes, then receive Marseille and go to Lille.
“I don't think it depends on the opponent, more on the form we are in that day.
We don't win by accident, we win because we have qualities and because we play as a team.
When we attack and defend together, we are undoubtedly one of the best teams in the championship”.
The Saint-Etienne defense is warned.
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