This is the first good news to come for Jocelyn Gourvennec, the new strong man of Lille.
According to our information, José Fonte, free since July 1, 2021, and announced in particular in Italy, at Roma, has decided to re-join with the champion club of France.
Initially, the 37-year-old center-back seemed reluctant to extend as Losc only offered him an additional year with a reduced salary.
Finally, the northern leaders have somewhat revised their copy with the key for the Portuguese international a two-year lease (1 year + 1 year) and pecuniary conditions more in line with his expectations.
The weight of the Champions League
This is a good signal for Lille in the throes of a flight of its talents.
Faced with a delicate financial situation, he is forced to sell in order to recover between 80 and 100 million euros to balance his budget.
After sales of Mike Maignan to AC Milan (15 million euros), Boubakary Soumaré to Leicester (23 million euros), Christophe Galtier to Nice (3 million euros), Adama Soumaoro (2.5 million euros, Bologna), Renato Sanches, author of a convincing Euro, appears on the shelves of leading English clubs such as Arsenal and Liverpool in particular.
Bamba and Ikoné are also likely to leave the Mastiffs.
Arrived in Lille in July 2018, Fonte has played 114 matches there. By his regularity on the ground and his unfailing involvement in the locker room, he was a preponderant element in the conquest of the title of champion of France. By this choice, he intends to remain close to his family who still live in England. The prospect of playing the Champions League in September also weighed in his decision. In recent weeks Bordeaux, now led by Gérard Lopez, the former boss of Lille and Nice, had also inquired about the Lille defender.
