MIDI LIBRE INFO. Jack Thurin, Benjamin Richert and David Balaguer will play at the MHB next season

Jack Thurin, la très bonne pioche du Montpellier Handball. MAXPPP – Henning Bagger

Délesté de quelques-uns de ses meilleurs joueurs – Yanis Lenne notamment –, le Montpellier Handball se devait de réagir.

Montpellier Handball fans are going through difficult days. Or rather “were going through difficult days” is it more accurate to write this Friday, January 10. In recent weeks, they have been counting the departures announced at the end of June without any real glimmer of hope behind the locker room door.

Ahmed Hesham, Yanis Lenne (Veszprém), Karl Konan, Sebastian Karlsson (Paris SG), Veron Nacinovic (Kiel), Stas Skube or Jaime Fernandez (non-extension of the contract): the list of certain and certified departures was growing, to the great displeasure of the leaders of a club preferring radio silence. It should not last.

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The signing of Agustin Casado, the Spanish leader of Veszprém, on December 17th, was the first convincing sign of the MHB's still intact ambitions. The upcoming announcements could put a smile back on the faces of the most pessimistic.

Aalborg's top scorer in the Champions League

By February 8th, three boys will indeed sign with Montpellier. To replace the two international wingers (Lenne and Karlsson) to start with. The former has just joined the French team at 26 years old. This is Benjamin Richert, currently under contract with Chambéry and holder of the record for the number of goals scored in a championship match (19, on February 19, 2024 against Créteil).

The second was European champion with Spain in 2018 and has been playing for Paris SG since 2022. This is David Balaguer. At 33, the ex-Barcelona player is no longer in his prime but remains a safe bet on his wing and a partner who is always in a good mood on a daily basis.

The third thief arrives from Aalborg in Denmark, where he plays the right-back position. This is the Swede Jack Thurin, 25 years old, 2 m under the height. After the first ten matches of the group stage of the Champions League, Thurin is his team's top scorer (47 goals). Valentin Porte, who has often felt a little alone in this right-back position, will have an answer this time.

Thurin has signed for three seasons.

Six departures, seven arrivals

Rogerio Moraes (pivot), Zvonimir Srna (left-back), Agustin Casado (centre-half), Léo Plantin (left winger), Benjamin Richert (right winger), David Balaguer (right winger), Jack Thurin (right-back): in total, MHB has recruited seven new players for next season.

Enough to whet the appetite and curiosity of fans. Even the most skeptical.

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