Moussa Dembélé: from OL to club property in Lithuania

Arriving at the Sommer 2018 from Celtic Glasgow, Moussa Dembélé quickly established himself as an effective player in the Lyon colours. In five seasons between Rhône and Saône, he crossed the 15 goals in Ligue 1 three times. However, his technical difficulties back to the game have sometimes earned him criticism.

Disappeared on the bench as soon as Alexandre Lacazette returned, Dembélé had a rather bright 2022-2023 season before flying to Saudi Arabia and Al Ettifaq’s club the following summer. But the former Fulham player is more than just a Saudi Pro League player. The former French international hopes has in fact just become owner of the FK Minija, as announced by the Lithuanian club ranked 9th in the second division.

This is Dembélé’s second club acquired thanks to its investment group Triple M, which also owns the Malian formation of AS Mansa, bought in 2019. This announcement comes as the attacker continues to recover from his serious injury to the Achilles tendon during the match against Al-Okhdood on February 8.

In England, OL’s reserve was once again intractable against an English semifinal team of the Premier League International Cup. At Craven Cottage, the men of Geïda Fofana kept their cage inviolated for the fifth time in six games in the tournament.

The start of the match was difficult and intense London pressing threatened the Lyons. But they were able to react and gradually take control of the game. After two occasions not converted by Alejandro Gomes Rodriguez, it was finally Romain Perret who opened the score shortly before the return to the changing rooms, well served by Lilian Copa after a sublime collective action.

In the second period, the Rhodanian defensive line was put to the test, but it stood in the face of the English assaults. It was finally in the additional time that Mathys De Carvalho sealed the qualification of his own by obtaining a penalty that he himself transformed. A 2-0 victory that allowed OL to become the first French team to qualify in the final of the competition since its appearance in 2014.

Teo Barisi’s teammates responded well after Friday’s disappointment and defeat against UF Maconnaise in N3. They are still third in the championship and close to a European crown. Prior to this, Nottingham Forest will have to be released in the final of the European Cup of Training Centres. The date of the last match is not yet known but OL will have to move