In search of a central defender to replace post for post Andrei Girotto who left for Saudi Arabia, FC Nantes was targeting a former member of the Yellow House. As announced by Hitwest several weeks ago Chidozie Awaziem was close to joining FC Nantes. Loaned by Porto during the 2017-2018 season, the player had played 22 matches with the Yellow-Et-Green for one goal.
🚨INFO Hit West
The @FCNantes activates to bring back two ex: the def. Nigerian international central Chidozie AWAZIEM (Boavista) and def. side Lionel CAROLE (Kayserispor).
Both players are OK [tout comme l’attaquant Meschack ÉLIA (Berne), déjà évoqué].
MORE… pic.twitter.com/A7wr7COmQ1
— Simon Reungoat (@SimonReungoat) July 30, 2023
If all the lights seemed to be green for a return, the transfer took a long time to finalize. Despite an agreement with Boavista FC around a transfer fee of €1.5 million, FC Nantes hoped to take advantage of a dispute between Awaziem and the Portuguese club to recover the free player. Finally, the financial dispute between the two parties has been settled and the Canaries will have to pay the transfer amount.
An imminent arrival
As announced by the newspaper L’Équipe in the evening, the Nigerian defender should arrive on the banks of the Erdre at the start of the week. While FC Nantes prepares to face LOSC in a match that may be decisive for Pierre Aristouy, the presence of Chidozie Awaziem for the home match against Monaco cannot be ruled out. The player, who took part in the first Portuguese league game with Boavista, will arrive physically ready.
While Jean-Charles Castelletto has been announced back from injury for this weekend, the question of the role that Chidozie Awaziem will occupy in the Nantes defense may arise. Accustomed to playing as a right central in a 4-man defense, the Nigerian could find himself in competition with the Cameroonian international. However, if Pierre Aristouy decided to renew the 3-5-2 which had started against Toulouse, Awaziem could then evolve on the right in the three-way hinge with the Castelletto / Pallois pair.
2023-08-19 06:06:50
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