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On Saturday afternoon, under the sunshine of the Côte d’Azur, Patrick Vieira’s squad returned to the training pitches, after a short break of six days.

In agreement with the coach, Mario Balotelli wasn’t present as the squad returned: “I have given Mario a few more days so that he can think about his future, his desires” explained Patrick Vieira when speaking to the press after a session of around an hour, during which the Red and Blacks alternated between physical drills and ballwork on small pitches.

Racine Coly and Christophe Hérelle had also warned the Nice coach that they wouldn’t be able to return on Saturday, in the same way as the South Americans,  Walter Benitez and Dante who will return  in the middle of next week. Danilo is back in Nice to receive treatment on his adductors (see medical update below).

The next test for the Gym? A trip to Toulouse next Saturday for the Round of 64 of the Coupe de France. A competition that hasn’t been too lucky for the Aiglons in recent years, as they have been knocked out in their first round in each season… including the last three against sides from Ligue 1 (Rennes, Lorient and Toulouse). “In a competition like this, the draw makes a big difference” explained Patrick Vieira. “To travel to face a Ligue 1 side, it’s not easy, but we want to do well and our preparation is clearly with the objective of making it through this round.”

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