Nîmes Olympique: “I like to provoke my full-back”, the first words of Aaron Malouda, loaned by Lille until the end of the season

Aaron Malouda est arrivé ce lundi 3 février à La Bastide où il a fait connaissance avec ses nouveaux partenaires. Midi Libre – Thierry Albenque

A new signing from the winter transfer window, left winger Aaron Malouda arrived in Nîmes on Monday. “I know the team's situation, I'm not afraid,” he assures.

Nîmes Olympique and LOSC made official on Monday, February 3, the loan of left winger Aaron Malouda, who will strengthen the Crocos until the end of the season.

The son of former French international Florent Malouda, 19, right-footed unlike his father, appeared at La Bastide early in the afternoon. He was not present at the session scheduled for the morning.

The Dogue didn't linger on the field. Along with Cozzella, the third goalkeeper in the re-athleticization phase, he worked for about ten minutes apart from the group, under the orders of fitness coach Alexandre Duclaux. He didn't have time to touch the ball much.

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He had an appointment at 4:30 p.m. to undergo his medical examination. Time to rush to the locker room to change and Aaron Malouda has rushed into the crocodile steward's utility van, heading for the Nîmes University Hospital.

“I know the team's situation, I'm not afraid”

Just before leaving, the only recruit of the winter transfer window confided that coming to Nîmes was “a good experience, a good challenge for me”. The ranking of the crocodile team, 15th in the National, did not scare him: “I know the situation, it is not easy but I was not afraid, there is something to do to go for the maintenance. I followed the last matches of Nîmes, they are a good team, with a lot of possession and the desire to play. It is just the results that are lacking, because of a problem of finishing.”

“Speed, dribbling, percussion, my qualities strong”

From the height of his 19 years, the one who is linked to LOSC until June 2027 assures it, expressing himself calmly and clearly: “I think I can contribute in this area (finishing). I like to provoke my full-back. I am an off-centre player who likes to make decisive passes and score, if necessary. I run a lot, I am quite fast. Speed, dribbling, impact, these are my strong qualities.”

He is physically ready

Aaron Malouda, who has played seven matches in National 3 with the reserve team lille player since the start of the season, who has sat on the bench eight times in Ligue 1 (he came on for a minute against Strasbourg on January 25), is “physically ready” and could therefore be called up for the trip to Rouen on Friday February 7, for the 20th day of the National.

Before joining Nîmes where he has come to “gain playing time”, he had the opportunity to talk with Adil Hermach, the crocodile coach: “He told me that he expected a lot of percussion and dribbling from his wide players, a bit of madness, too. I understood that he allowed a certain offensive freedom, I like that.”

Only one player was missing from training on Monday: Ronny Labonne, replaced on Friday against Valenciennes (0-0) in the 72nd minute, who is suffering from adductor problems.