In deficit of results with regard to the performances delivered since the start of the season and deprived of several of its executives selected by their national team to compete in the African Cup of Nations, AS Saint-Étienne has invested heavily in the winter market in order to compensate for these absences and to bring additional experience and serenity to the promising group which had achieved an encouraging second half of the season from January to May 2021.
Based on the criteria defined by the joint work of the Sports Coordinator, Loïc Perrin and Pascal Dupraz, the Saint-Etienne management has set its sights on seven experienced and revengeful players to seek its maintenance.
Arrivals
Paul Bernardoni (Goalkeeper, 24 years old, French, 184 matches, on loan from Angers SCO)
French international goalkeeper (54 caps in the various French youth teams), Paul Bernardoni was launched into the professional world at only 17 years old, with his training club, ESTAC Troyes. Transferred to Bordeaux, the goalkeeper then spent two full seasons, on loan, with Clermont (Ligue 2) then Nîmes (Ligue 1) before being transferred to Angers SCO. After playing the entire last exercise in Anjou, he joined Forez and is fine “ready to take up the maintenance mission“.
“The arrival of Paul Bernardoni adds experience to a very important position to increase our chances of obtaining results for the maintenance, emphasizes Pascal Dupraz. He comes to be the incumbent who will be subject to competition.“
> The portrait of Paul Bernardoni on ASSE.TV
Eliaquim Mangala (Defender, 30 years old, French, 335 games, free)
The most expensive defender in history at the time of his record transfer to Manchester City in 2014, Eliaquim Mangala has solid experience at the very highest level. After his last experience in Valencia in La Liga, the central defender, a former French international, will put his qualities on and off the pitch at the service of the Greens until the end of the season. “It is a source of pride to join AS Saint-Étienne. I take the situation of the club as a challenge. My goal is to help the club get out of it, I know we will do it.“
“Eliaquim will bring us serenity and something that is not easily acquired: experience“hopes the Stéphane coach.
Joris Gnagnon (Defender, 25, French, 130 games, free)
After exposing his full potential at Stade Rennais, in 2016-2017 and when he was only 19 years old, Joris Gnagnon opened the doors to the French U20 and Espoirs teams. A full season later with his training club, he attracts the greed of Sevilla FC, which he will join in 2018. Everything does not go as planned and the defender finds himself free of any contract before joining AS Saint-Étienne. “After a delicate period on a personal level, recognizes the new Green, two challenges present themselves to me: to find my level on the ground to return the confidence that the leaders gave me and to help ASSE to remain in the first division. I will do everything for. »
“Joris knows Ligue 1 Uber Eats well and operates in a sector that we were looking to strengthen, analyzes Pascal Dupraz. We want him to prepare as well as possible to be available as soon as possible, in order to help us in our quest for maintenance.“
Falaye Sacko (Defender, 26 years old, Malian, 181 appearances, on loan from Vitória Guimarães SC)
Under the radar of the Saint-Etienne recruitment cell for several seasons, Falaye Sacko has finally indeed joined AS Saint-Étienne this winter. Able to play in the axis and the right lane, the versatile defender, who has been playing in Portugal since 2016/2017, was established in all of Mali’s matches during the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. Eliminated in eighth final, Falaye Sacko is already available to discover Ligue 1 Uber Eats. Compatriot of Fousseni Diawara, with whom he discussed about ASSE, the new number 14 of the Greens has certain athletic qualities on which Pascal Dupraz will rely.
“Falaye is a modern defender, able to evolve in various defensive positions and easily project himself to offer offensive solutions, welcomed his new coach.
Sada Thioub (Forward, 26 years old, Senegalese, 202 matches, on loan from Angers SCO)
Revengeful after having been used too little in Angers this season, the Senegalese international arrives in Saint-Étienne to remind everyone of the qualities that allowed him to be transferred from Nîmes Olympique, where he had spent three full seasons, to Angers SCO. After 50 games in the black and white tunic, Sada Thioub already has 4 appearances in the Green jersey since his arrival in early January. “I want to help ASSE to maintain it, says the number 9 from Saint-Etienne. This is my goal and to achieve it, I will have to show my qualities after a particular period on a personal level.“
“The arrival of Sada illustrates our desire to recruit vengeful players, recognizes the technician from Saint-Etienne. Their arrival is, for sure, the guarantee that they will give their all for AS Saint-Étienne.“
Bakary Sako (Forward, 33 years old, Malian, 383 matches, free)
It’s a most enjoyable homecoming. Bakary Sako has already worn the Green tunic 117 times between 2009 and 2012. The striker, who arrived from Châteauroux at the time, left the image of a jovial, regular and collective player. After successful experiences in England (Wolverhampton, Crystal Palace and West Bromwich) and a short Cypriot exodus, “Baky” finds the Green house with a single mission. “I am very proud to find the club that revealed me. Coming back here, almost ten years later, is something big. I arrive with a single mission: to save the club with the help of my teammates.”
“Bakary is a player who knows the club, is very motivated and already shows us in training that he has lost none of his qualities, notes Pascal Dupraz. I expect him to bring something to the field, but we will also appreciate his good humor and his experience in the locker room.“
Enzo Crivelli (Forward, 26, French, 248 appearances, on loan from Istanbul Basaksehir FK)
He is a well-known name in French football. With Bordeaux, Bastia, Angers then Caen, Enzo Crivelli has already recorded 125 appearances in the top flight. Launched at 18 by the Girondins, his training club, then loaned to the Island of Beauty, the striker notably scored 10 goals in 24 appearances with the Corsicans, at only 21 years old. He had been playing for two and a half years in Turkey, where, with Istanbul Basaksehir FK, he experienced the Europa League and then the Champions League. In his first season in the Süper Lig, he found the net 11 times. From now on, it is those of Ligue 1 Uber Eats that he will have to shake. “It’s a new challenge that promises to be exciting, rejoices the new number 31. ASSE is a mythical club, I am happy to join it. I have only one goal: to keep him in Ligue 1 Uber Eats.”
“I am very happy with the arrival of Enzo, smiled Pascal Dupraz. It responds to our research in the offensive sector. He is a player who meets the defined criteria. He has a certain ability to weigh on the opposing defense, which will be very useful to us.“
Departures
By mutual agreement, AS Saint-Étienne, Liverpool Fùtbol Club (Uruguay) and Ignacio Ramírez ended the striker’s loan in Forez. Jean-Philippe Krasso, he was loaned until the end of the season to AC Ajaccio, well placed in Ligue 2 BKT and a serious candidate for the rise in Ligue 1 Uber Eats. Finally, Alpha Sissoko and Stefan Bajic have left the club for good. The defender joined Quevilly Rouen Métropole (16th in L2) while the doorman, from Saint-Etienne since U8, will now wear the colors of Pau Football Club (10th in L2).