A local lad and a Gym player since he was five years old, Malang Sarr became a first-team regular at just 17 years of age and has now signed his first professional contract with OGC Nice. The obvious next step for both him and the club.

"It's a great pleasure and, at the same time, it's the most natural thing in the world. I've never known another club: OGC Nice is my club, my home, the place where I feel best. It was my dream to sign a professional contract here; the dream came true and it has a very special flavour." A large smile lit up the youngster's face as he discussed his change in status.

Malang Sarr, seven years ago at the Stade du Ray.

An early-season revelation, the 17-year-old defender (he will turn 18 on January 23) has now taken things to the next level at the club where he has grown up as a man and a footballer, a club where the youth academy is at the core of the club's sporting project. He joined this venerable institution as the tender age of five and, ever the promising prospect, the local lad quickly became one of the school's biggest stars before hitting top gear in the summer of 2016.

The young prospect, who lives by the saying that "age doesn't matter in football", joined the senior squad during pre-season preparations. Moved into the centre of defence at the academy upon the arrival of coach Emerse Fae, this versatile France U18 international who can also play on the left was propelled into Ligue 1 by Lucien Favre in the opening match of season 2016-2017 and marked the occasion with a highly symbolic goal against Stade Rennais. Since then? Sarr is the outfield player most used by his Swiss coach and had started every match, be it in the league or the Europa League. And he is yet to lose anything of his freshness and sense of ambition.
"Contractually, my status has changed, but in terms of day-to-day life, things are pretty much the same," he concluded politely. "I plan and train with the first team; off the pitch, I also have my little routines. I still live with my mum and I still hang out with the same friends. All the people close to me are very happy. So am I. Now I just need to keep growing with the club."

C.D.

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