Signed for just €6m from the Netherlands, Tochukwu Nnadi has made himself a regular starter in Bruno Genesio’s midfield at Olympique de Marseille, with the club having just strung together four straight Ligue 1 wins.
Tochukwu Nnadi, the Nigerian midfielder at Olympique de Marseille, is changing his status. Arriving for just €6 million from the Netherlands, according to Sport.fr, he is now a regular starter in the midfield of Bruno Genesio, the OM head coach.
Long left out by Roberto De Zerbi and then by Habib Beye, his former coaches, Nnadi has seized his chance. His return from injury coincides with Marseille’s upturn: after five straight defeats, the club has now won four in a row in Ligue 1, according to Sport.fr.
A profile OM were missing
Le Phocéen, cited by Sport.fr, highlights Nnadi’s aggression in winning the ball back and his impact in duels. “Nnadi brings something this OM were sorely lacking: aggression in the recovery, impact in duels and that ability to go and win the ball off opponents’ feet,” it reads.
That knack for winning the ball back goes hand in hand with his status as a regular starter under Bruno Genesio. Le Phocéen goes further: “Here is a player who arrived in relative obscurity becoming one of the most valuable members of the Marseille collective,” again according to the remarks reported by Sport.fr.
Competition still fierce
Despite his new status, Tochukwu Nnadi must contend with significant competition for his position. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, Angel Gomes, Geoffrey Kondogbia, Kamissoko and Himad Abdelli are also in the Marseille midfield, Sport.fr recalls.
The Nigerian’s signing is credited to Medhi Benatia, OM’s head of recruitment.
Proving it over time
Nnadi’s next challenge will be to prove himself over the long run. In a midfield where competition remains fierce, he will have to maintain his level of performance to keep his starting place, according to Sport.fr.
For now, his rise coincides with OM’s recovery, with the club on a run of four straight Ligue 1 wins after five consecutive defeats.