Montpellier's current top scorer, free next June, was transferred to Germany on Tuesday, January 28, the day after Akor Adams left
They have the art of the counterattack. One day after Akor Adams, who unexpectedly transferred to FC Seville, Arnaud Nordin left Montpellier, six months before the end of his contract to sign for Mainz, a club ranked 6th in the Bundesliga. Courted by Lille this summer, the departure of Montpellier's top scorer (4 goals), made official on Tuesday, January 28 by the Hérault club, does not come as a surprise, but the timing is surprising.
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000After two and a half seasons in Hérault, partly successful, Arnaud Nordin (26 years old) is leaving at a time when Montpellier, faced with a financial and sporting crisis, needs to clear its deficit and trim its salary policy. His transfer, valued at €1M, is far from its market value estimated at €8M by the Transfermarkt website. When he arrived from Saint-Etienne (2013-22), he broke the umbilical cord with his training club and freed himself from the narrow label “of the good kid of the club”.
“Arnaud has no more time to waste. He has great potential, but he needs to step up a gear”, observed Jacky Bonnevay, former assistant coach of Claude Puel at the Verts (2019-21) in the summer of 2022.
Lack of consistency
In Montpellier, Arnaud Nordin is not losing any and is adapting at lightning speed within a group, where the master of the place: Téji Savanier dubbed him after their shared experience at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. This natural talent seduces, but lacks consistency.
“He is excellent over half a season”, exasperated the former coach Michel Der Zakarian, who appreciated the striker for his know-how and his constant good humor.
During the second half of his first season, he had a blast alongside his Parisian accomplices: Elye Wahi and Faitout Maouassa. And displayed the panoply of the modern striker. He finished the season with nine goals and five assists in a devastating attack (65 goals).
The summer and the following fall, his momentum was hampered by repeated muscle injuries. Until January, he went back and forth between the bench, the infirmary and sometimes the pitch. Before resurfacing in the race for survival. For a convincing half-season.
I subscribe to read the rest