“When we are on the pitch, there are no friends,” announced Maxime Estève regarding the return of Elye Wahi (20 years old) to the Stade de la Mosson, this Friday evening (9 p.m.), in opening of the 15th day of Ligue 1.
And added: “Afterwards, we will discuss at the end of the match etc… But for ninety minutes, he will not be my friend. We’ll see at the end of the match. But it’s nice to see him again anyway (smile).” If the Montpellier defender spoke about the French center forward, it is because the latter will (certainly) be the attraction of the meeting between Montpellier Hérault SC and Racing Club de Lens.
The main reason ? Transferred last summer for €35 million – including bonus -, the international Espoirs striker returns for the first time to La Paillade, where he was trained, where he revealed himself at the high level, notably with a 2022 exercise -2023 remarkable, concluded with 19 goals on the clock. It is therefore (logically) a special match for him. “This is going to feel weird. I’m looking forward to this match. I hope it will be a great meeting. I also hope to win because, now, I have crossed over to the other side, but I will be happy to see everyone again in Montpellier. The emotion will be very strong. The MHSC is a club that is dear to me and it always will be, whatever happens,” he explained this week to the official MHSC website.
And one thing is certain. Wahi does not intend to give any gifts to his former partners. “At the end of the match, I will have plenty of time to greet everyone, but once on the pitch, I will be obliged to give my all for the Racing Club de Lens, and to do my duty by giving everything to my team,” he said. The people of Hérault have been warned.
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But if Elye Wahi is so anticipated this Friday evening, it is also because he must (finally) launch his season in Ligue 1. He has, of course, distinguished himself in the Champions League, with, among other things, a performance and a decisive goal against Arsenal (2-1), but in the French championship, for the moment, his performances are disappointing. Or at least, far from expectations. Indeed, in ten matches played in the French elite under the colors of Sang et Or, he only found the net twice. Insufficient for a player for whom the Lensois leaders did not hesitate to take out the checkbook, making the biggest investment in their history.
“It wasn’t obvious to me at first; I’m not going to say the opposite but you have to work to acclimatize and that’s what I tried to do. Adapting to a new club, to a new context or even to a new tactical scheme sometimes requires a little time, as was the case for me, but I feel better and better and I am very happy. , he admitted. Before indicating that he must “continue to score to bring as much as possible” to his team.
But it won’t be easy this Friday evening. The center forward who will turn 21 next January is well aware of this. “I expect a difficult match, like all matches in the championship, but perhaps even more so here; firstly on a sporting level and of course on an emotional level, even if I will have to put that aside once the kick-off has been given. I am sure that Lens will do everything to bring back the three points from this meeting and that Montpellier will not give up, so that promises an attractive match,” he predicts. Will the meeting prove him right?
