Lyon animates the transfer market by succeeding a big blow.
One of the first of this summer transfer window.
Released by Arsenal, Alexandre Lacazette is officially back at OL, his training club, which he left in 2017 to join the Gunners.
Even in the absence of the European Cup next season for Les Gones, the 31-year-old striker was seduced by the speech of Jean-Michel Aulas, who absolutely wanted to see him return "home".
“If we have to compromise to get it, we will,” repeated the Lyon president last May.
After a difficult season, marked by an eighth place in Ligue 1 and the distrust of the supporters towards the men of Peter Bosz, this signing proves that Lyon have lost none of their ambitions.
If he remains on a complicated exercise, with six goals scored in 36 games played in all competitions, Alexandre Lacazette remains a safe bet in his position.
A leader who knows the Lyon environment perfectly and who will have an important role to play in supporting the club's rising youth symbolized by Maxence Caqueret, Castello Lukeba, Malo Gusto and Rayan Cherki.
“Coco Tolisso?
Yes I push for him to come too”
Thursday morning, Lacazette appeared before the media in the company of Jean-Michel Aulas.
“Coming back to OL has become obvious,” explains the former international.
Even without the European Cup, the club remains ambitious.
I think I have progressed in the game and in my leadership.
I want to help the team”.
Lacazette said he was trying to convince Corentin Tolisso to come back: "Yes, I'm pushing for him to come too."
Fourth top scorer in club history (129 goals in 275 games), Lacazette has agreed to halve his current salary (around 10 million euros per year) to return to Lyon.
Also proof of his desire to relaunch within the club which saw him hatch at the highest level, he rejected proposals coming in particular from Spain and England.
HE'S BACK, AND HE MISSED YOU!
#GeneralLacazette 🫡🔴🔵#LACAZETTE2025 #MadeInOL #Maillot2223 pic.twitter.com/eWRP8EcZci
– Olympique Lyonnais (@OL) June 9, 2022
It's a first big blow for OL when the club is about to go under the American flag.
The businessman Foster Gillett would be in pole position to buy 40% of the capital of OL, the shares of Pathé and IDG, on sale since March 8 and the marketing of the respective shares of the two shareholders (19 .36 for Pathé and 19.85 for IDG).
This sale would provide ample leeway for its future investments.