Football: Nîmes Olympique puts a (young) attacker on trial but “it's for the future”

On trial at Nîmes Olympique, left winger Lucas Marin describes himself as “punchy, with good vision of the game and speed”. Midi Libre – Thierry Albenque

Lucas Marin, 21, an attacking winger, has been on trial since Tuesday with the crocodile club. A trial that would not be part of the current winter transfer window.

His father Nicolas, now aged 44, played nearly 350 professional matches, notably at Auxerre, Saint-Étienne, Sedan, Lorient, Bastia, Sion (Switzerland) and Xánthi (Greece). Lucas Marin, born on April 16, 2003 in Auxerre, also a striker, has been on trial at Nîmes Olympique since Tuesday, January 21.

A trial, if it were conclusive, to strengthen the crocodile attack, the worst in the National (11 goals scored), during the winter transfer window ? A priori, no. “It's for the future, explains to Midi Libre the sports director Sébastien Larcier, not for now because it is not the position we are looking for as a priority. We had the opportunity to see him, we do not deny ourselves things.”

Indeed, it is a scorer that the Nîmes team currently needs, a player who is effective in finishing, which is not really Lucas Marin's profile.

A player on the wing and with speed

The native of Auxerre, 1.77 m, “can play in all positions of the attack, he has both feet. He is a winger and a speed player, very good in one-on-ones“, summarizes in any case the crocodile coach Adil Hermach.

“I am more of a left winger but I also play on the right. I have the profile of a hard-hitting player, with good vision of the game and speed qualities”, adds Lucas Marin.

Trained in Nice, turned pro in Switzerland

Trained at OGC Nice and then spent time at Le Havre, Lucas Marin joined Switzerland in February 2023. After four months in the Yverdon-les-Bains reserve team (11 matches, 4 goals), he signed professionally with Neuchâtel Xamax, in the Challenge League (2nd Swiss division), making 11 appearances (none as a starter, 0 goals).

Last September, he signed with Vevey-Sports, a club in the Promotion League (3rd Swiss division). Since the start of the season, he has been used eight times, only starting once (0 goals).

“Looking for a new project”

Under contract until June 2025, already “on the way out” in Vevey, Lucas Marin is “looking for a new project”. “Asked by Nîmes who invited me to do a week of testing”, he has been training for two days with the Crocos. “I'm here to show what I'm capable of“, he said.

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