Title: The Canaries of FC Nantes renounce the arrival of Meschack Elia due to the African Cup of Nations
Introduction :
FC Nantes, an emblematic Ligue 1 club, recently ended discussions to recruit Congolese striker Meschack Elia. Club officials made this decision due to the player’s likely participation in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations. This news was announced by Ouest France, thus leaving Meschack Elia free from any move for the moment. This situation opens the door to other interested clubs, notably Montpellier which is closely following the development of the player’s situation.
The brakes on the African Cup of Nations:
Meschack Elia, currently under contract with the Swiss club Young Boys, is a very popular player in France. However, his participation in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations with the DR Congo national team was an obstacle for FC Nantes. The Leopards den sees Elia as one of their executives and is counting on him for qualification for the next edition of the tournament which will take place in Ivory Coast in 2024. It is therefore understandable that the Nantes club does not wish to hire a player whose availability would be uncertain during this period.
The interest of Montpellier:
Following FC Nantes’ decision not to recruit Meschack Elia, eyes are turning towards Montpellier. The Hérault club is closely monitoring the player’s situation and could position itself to try to attract him to its ranks. The winner of the 2016 African Nations Championship with the Leopards A’ has all the potential to strengthen the Montpellier squad and bring added value on a sporting level.
Conclusion :
The decision of FC Nantes to renounce the arrival of Meschack Elia due to his probable participation in the African Cup of Nations reveals the issues linked to the availability of international players during major competitions. This also opens the door to other clubs, such as Montpellier, who could seize the opportunity to recruit a talented and experienced player. To be continued in the coming weeks to find out the future club of Meschack Elia.