Gourcuff holding the Coupe de la Ligue 2009
An exciting season is already under way. Not only in England, in Spain or in Italy, but also in France, where hot transfers and newborn rivalries have the fans more attentive than ever.
French teams have always had a hard time holding on to their superstars, their economic power being outweighed by that of a lot of foreign clubs. This is why Ronaldinho doesn’t play in Paris anymore. Or why Drogba left Marseille. Or why Thierry Henry, Robert Pires, Eric Cantona or Zinedine Zidane never spent more than a few seasons playing in their own country.
This year, an increase in clubs’ budgets, as well as a real drive to be competitive in the Champions League led managers and presidents to make many decisive purchases:
-Yohan Gourcuff, one of France’s brightest prospects, was bought by Bordeaux who only had him on a loan from Italy’s great AC Milan.
-Lyon acquired the services of Lisandro Lopez, an Argentinian international, Michel Bastos, a young Brazilian with a vicious left foot, and Aly Cissokho.
Marseilles’ inter season was by far the busiest, with the likes of Fernando Morientes (Spain), Souleymane Diawara (Senegal), Gabriel Heinze and Lucho Gonzales (Argentina) joining heir already impressive roster.
The flashy transfers are not the only positive change to the Ligue 1: for the first time in 7 seasons, the defending champion will not be Lyon. Bordeaux will have the tough task of holding on to their tittle. Marseilles, Paris and Lyon will be the most serious contenders, but teams like Toulouse and Rennes will be flirting with the podium and should not be disregarded.
Next time you’re looking for a game to watch, don’t pass on Marseilles-Bordeaux on the account of it being played in a ‘lower’ league. Things are changing.
