Still playing in Non-League three years ago, the newest Nice recruit Pierre Lees-Melou doesn’t leave anybody feeling indifferent. And especially not his two "mentors", Nicolas Sahnoun and Stéphane Trévisan. His former coach and his closest advisor (associate of agent Stéphane Canard) are the first to reveal his qualities, that will now be put on show at the highest level. For OGCNice.com, they have retraced his atypical career path. Charmed as much by the footballer as by the man, they both can see him blossoming during his time on the Côte d'Azur.

“Stéph', if you have 30 minutes to lose, look at the video that I sent you…” The scene is described by Stéphane Trévisan himself. The former goalkeeper, who played for both Marseille and Guingamp, had half an hour to lose on that particular day. “But 20 minutes were enough. Pierre (Lees-Melou) played for Lège, against Villeneuve d’Ornon. I immediately called Nico' (Sahnoun) to tell him: “Your player,  I want to meet him. And as soon as possible.”

The instigator of the meeting, Nicolas Sahnoun, was, at that point the coach, at Lège-Cap Ferret. He had, half-way through the season, done all in his power to secure the services of a young Pierre Lees-Melou, released from Bordeaux’s academy at 16 years old. “I had already seem him play at U19, in the Coupe Gambardella and in DH. He was an unusual player, because of his physical stature, at the same time being big but a bit fragile. At the time, he lacked power. That might be what held him back to begin with. But he was already very elegant with the ball.”

“The whole school was sorry to see him go”

To convince ‘PLM’, his coach arranged a job for him, as a supervisor in a primary school: “He got up at 6am to look after the kids, and left the school at 6pm to go to training. He never missed a session. The sporting idea behind it was to get him to play at a higher level.” The higher level, to begin with the CFA 2, which he discovered after having won the Aquitaine Championship with his new club. “Numerous pro clubs came to watch him. But few took the gamble on his profile”, told Sahnoun (in photo).

It was Dijon, at that time in Ligue 2, who took the gamble. A heart breaker for the pupils of Cap-Ferret (“the whole school was sorry to see him go”), but a real source of pride for his coach, himself a former Dijon player. “I knew that he had the talent to become pro, and to play at a higher level. At the end of the day, a career is made on club choices. Dijon, it was a perfect choice. They knew how to get the best out of him and to help him improve.”

 

Alongside Cédric Varrault and Arnaud Souquet, Pierre Lees-Melou obtained the title of runner-up in Ligue 2 and his ticket to Ligue 1.

“Nice came along very early on”

In his first match, he scored a classic goal against Lyon who fell at the Gaston Gérard (4-2). Top-flight football had heard for the first time the name of this attacking midfielder. Stéphane Trévisan (in photo) confirmed it: “Even if it is always difficult to predict this kind of trajectory, I was sure that he would end up as a pro. His qualities were unquestionable.”

With 7 goals and 3 assists, Pierre Lees-Melou was one of the revelations of the 2016-17 season. Safety in the bag, he has left Bourgogne to head to the Côte d'Azur. “OGC Nice came along very early on, explained Trévisan. Pierre, like his entourage, were very quickly convinced. It was the ideal club for him.”

“Nice, are another step up again, admits Sahnoun. He will change planets. But I am not worried for him. He is still young, in the good sense of the word. He is fresh, out to discover things. He is always smiling because he likes what he does. And on the pitch, he never stresses. It’s a strength.” Stéphane Trévise is also calm about it: “Every time he makes a step up, he overcomes it. He hoists himself up quickly to the level needed.”

“A real ball player”

“The philosophy at Nice suits him, detailed Trévisan. He is a real ball player, he needs movement around him.” Views shared by Nicolas Sahnoun: “He likes to get on the ball. And he is a real team player. He can play behind the forwards, on a wing, or in a middle three. He moves forward well and is decisive. His teammates will be at a better level, too.”

“His technique has always been above average. The hardest thing has been to cancel out his physical shortcomings” admitted his former coach at Lège-Cap Ferret. “Today, he has a huge game in his locker (Trévisan). In terms of style, he makes me think of Julien Féret (Caen), with his vision, his movement between the lines, and his technical accuracy.” “It’s true that he is like him, accepted Sahnoun. Personally, I call him El Flaco*!”

“A very good choice”

The 2 mentors can only praise their “little” protege (1.85m). And can barely find fault. “If we talk about tennis. He still hasn’t beaten me” joked Nicolas Sahnoun, before regaining his seriousness: “3 years ago, he was playing against Angoulême. Now, he is going to play in Europe. It’s what dreams are made of! I am happy for him. He really desserves it. He has great values and keeps his feet on the ground. Someone like him in a squad, it is very important. As a player and as a man, he has all the qualities needed to succeed. You have made a very good choice!”

*El Flaco means ‘The skinny one” in Spanish. It is a nickname for the Parisian Javier Pastore, known for his slight figure.

F.H. (Photo credits: Dijon FCO, OGC Nice Médias)

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