Bradley Barcola’s transfer from PSG to OL in August 2023 had aroused strong reactions among the Lyon supporters, some of whom considered him a betrayal. Initially, the player seemed reluctant to leave the club, but eventually accepted the transfer. This potential resale by the PSG could once again revive the debate, with several clubs showing interest in the profile of the former Lyon attacker. Liverpool would be particularly interested and willing to invest a large sum, potentially exceeding EUR 100 million. While the PSG can welcome the added value achieved on a player recovered for 45 million euros, OL is in a difficult situation. Since the club did not include a resale clause in the contract, it would receive only a small training allowance in the event of a transfer to another club, a situation which caused the fans to be indignant in view of OL’s financial difficulties.
OL Lyonnais is preparing to resume training for the coming season, with a first friendly match against the Servette FC de Genève. The training will take place in Decines, despite potentially difficult weather conditions with high temperatures. This meeting marks the beginning of an intensive preparation for the championship, which will start on 7 September against OM. Lyon fans will have to wait until August 21 to see the first actions of the new recruits in a friendly match against the London City Lionesses. The team is actively training to regain its pace and prepare for the challenges of the new season.
Mariano Diaz, a former OL player, recently signed a two-season contract with Deportivo Alavés. After a difficult visit to Real Madrid, where he did not benefit from regular playing time, this transfer represents a new opportunity for the attacker to relaunch his career in Liga. Trained in Real Madrid, Diaz had his best OL season, with 21 goals in all competitions. His return to Madrid in 2018 had not met his expectations, and he hopes to regain pace and confidence in Spain. At the same time, the situation around OL remains tense, with legal disputes over debts related to player transfers, notably with Botafogo. The Brazilian club awaits the publication of its financial statement of 2024 to justify its financial claims against OL.