Little more than six months after joining Olympiacos from Lille, Rémy Cabella looks set for a return to French football.
The 35-year-old Frenchman has been linked with a January move to struggling Ligue 1 side Nantes, where manager Ahmed Kantari, who took over following the dismissal of Luís Castro last week, is seeking to fortify his squad for the relegation battle that lies ahead.
Kantari’s reign began with a 4-1 defeat at Nantes on Friday night that leaves the club second from bottom of the division, a point adrift of safety.
Cabella, who has racked up almost 400 appearances in the French top flight across spells with AC Arlésien, Marseille, Saint-Étienne, Montpellier and Lille, would bring creativity, commitment and goals to Nantes.
When his signing was announced by Olympiacos in May, he was immediately painted as the natural heir to another French import, Mathieu Valbuena, who became a cult figure after joining the club from Fenerbahçe in 2019.
How Rémy Cabella has struggled for playing time at Olympiacos
Things have not quite worked out that way, however, with the attacking midfielder making just three starts in Piraeus to date. Cabella has amassed a modest total of 264 minutes across seven appearances in Super League 1 under José Luis Mendilibar, who has not included the Frenchman in his Champions League squad.
Reports in France claim that Cabella has agreed to move to the Stade de la Beaujoire on loan for the remainder of the season. The former France international is under contract with Olympiacos until the summer of 2027.
He is unlikely to be the only January signing, certainly not if other players have their way. Midfielder Johann Lepenant was looking forward to “a few new arrivals” even before Castro’s dismissal, and that optimism was echoed at the weekend by goalkeeper Anthony Lopes, whom Kantari has appointed captain.
Ahmed Kantari: ‘Experience is needed’
“We’re going to need more players,” said Lopes. “We’re not going to hide it, we’re saying it. It’s the truth, you probably know it better than I do. We know we’re going to have to make some big moves in the January transfer window.”
That view was endorsed by Kantari following defeat to Angers.
“Experience is needed, because young players need guidance,” said Kantari. “Experience is really important to succeed in this championship.”
It is a quality Cabella can offer in abundance.
