Lille: At the end of the contract and tracked by Brugge and Wolfsburg, the young hopeful (U20) Ibrahim Mandefu at a crossroads

In the LOSC antechamber, the young striker Ibrahim Mandefu will soon come to the end of his trainee contract. Having become an international U20 Senegalese, he has several avenues for his first professional contract and will seek the most attractive sporting project.

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Striking from father to son. Former Congolese international turned player agent, Djibril Mandefu must surely be proud of seeing his son Ibrahim take the same path as him. At least on the job, because for now, it is as a Senegalese U20 international (the nationality of his mother) that the young player stood out during the recent qualifying tournament for the African Cup. of the U20 Nations. Author of a goal against Gambia in particular, Ibrahim Mandefu was able to show his talent to observers of African football.

The emissaries of French football have spotted it for a long time already. Trained at FC Metz, he joined the Paris Football Training Center, before moving on to Paris FC then Lens in U19. Able to play in all positions of attack, but with a preference for the role of center-forward, he finished top scorer of his team in every season played. Obviously, it attracts attention. And while RC Lens dragged on to extend it, while in U19, regional rival LOSC jumped at the right time, ahead of Juventus Turin, to recover it.

LOSC has an option, but …

Lille’s history, however, has not taken the same turn. A difficult relationship with the coach and the Covid slowed the constant progress of Mandefu, who now comes to a crossroads, with the end of his internship contract at the end of the season. Lille have an option for a 3-year pro contract, but the recent changes at the head of the club, and the departure of Luis Campos (whose cell was behind the recruitment of Mandefu), maintain a form of suspense .

Several clubs have already surveyed the player’s father, including Brugge and Wolfsburg, with offers for a professional contract. For the Mandefu family, the next step will be crucial, and the proposed sports project in the center of attention. Trained across France, the young striker will therefore focus on the playing time he could get, just to prove that the talents of a scorer are passed on from father to son.

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