Rennes: Désiré expects Aït Boudlal to be 100% focused

Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal must now turn the page on the transfer window and fully concentrate on Stade Rennais. After a summer in which Fulham attempted to recruit him, Loïc Désiré sent a clear message to the Moroccan defender while reaffirming the club’s confidence in him.

“Since Tuesday, he needs to be 100% focused on Stade Rennais,” the sporting director said in an interview with Ouest-France. Loïc Désiré believes that the interest shown during the transfer window has likely affected the young defender’s concentration, who has made several mistakes since the start of the season.

Aït Boudlal was notably put in difficulty during Rennes’ victory against Le Mans (3-2) on August 30, being involved in the first opposing goal. Franck Haise had publicly urged his player to quickly correct his mistakes given the competition within the squad.

However, Loïc Désiré’s remarks do not constitute a disavowal. Rennes rejected a proposal from Fulham close to 40 million euros and considers keeping the Lion of the Atlas as an important sign of confidence. The executive also clarified that the Moroccan had never directly requested to leave the club.

To defend his player, Désiré recalled that Jérémy Jacquet had also faced criticism for some mistakes early in his career. At just 20 years old, Aït Boudlal still has Rennes’ confidence, but he will now need to respond on the pitch by regaining the focus and solidity he displayed last season.