Warriors’ striker Tino Kadewere cannot wait to don the FC Nantes colours after completing his loan move until the end of the season from Olympique Lyon this week as he makes a fresh start in his career.
The latest move could be the end of Kadewere’s time with Lyon, where he has struggled for form this season, as the deal involves an option to buy the player for Nantes if they manage to survive relegation.
Nantes will be expected to pay a small fee for the player whose value has slumped to just about 2,5 million Euros (US$2,7 million) since his 12 million Euros (US$13 million) switch to Lyon from Le Havre four years ago.
After a promising debut season for Les Gones, where he formed a deadly combination with former captain Memphis Depay and Cameroonian attacker Karl Toko Ekambi, scoring 10 goals and managing three assists, Kadewere has struggled to perform in the last three seasons.
This season, the 28-year-old striker has featured 11 times for Lyon, mainly coming from the bench and was yet to get a goal contribution and the club became impatient with him and were desperate to offload him.
Kadewere will be hoping for a change of fortune in Nantes colours.
“I am proud and really happy to be here, in Nantes. It’s a new year, a new challenge and we are going to attack with great ambitions.
“The idea is to give everything to help the team. I would like to thank the Club for the trust placed in me. I know the Stade de La Beaujoire well, a place that I really like (smile).
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“There is a superb atmosphere and I am impatient to play in front of the Nantes supporters,” he said after completing his loan move.
Kadewere will wear jersey number 15 at Nantes.
The Zimbabwean last scored a goal in the French topflight league in February 2022 in Lyon’s 1–1 draw with Lens away from home.
And since then he has featured 18 times for Lyon in Ligue 1 without scoring a goal or contributing an assist.
Last season, Lyon sent Kadewere to Real Mallorca in the Spanish La Liga for a season-long loan spell and he struggled to make an impact in a stint blighted by injuries.
Despite interest from a number of clubs notably Montpellier in the French League last summer, Kadewere ended up staying at the club, but made very little contribution with the club anchoring the log standings for the better part of the first half of the season.
Kadewere is likely going to make his debut for Nantes on January 14 when they host Clermont Foot in their first league match of the year.
Yesterday’s French Cup tie away at Ligue 2 side Pau may have come too early for Kadewere.
Nantes are currently in 13th place with 18 points from 17 matches in the French league, but have lost their last three matches.
The club has also lost Mostafa Mohamed and Moses Simon, who have left for the Afcon finals where they will be representing Egypt and Nigeria, respectively.
“FC Nantes and Olympique Lyonnais have reached an agreement for the loan — with option to purchase — of Tino Kadewere (28 years old), until the end of the 2023-24 season,” the club said in a statement.
Kadewere took time to bid farewell to Lyon where he is unlikely to return.
“The time has come to say goodbye. I’m delighted to announce that I am leaving on loan to FC Nantes. I would like to express my gratitude to Olympic Lyon for this incredible opportunity and for all the experience that I have had here. Its an honour to have worn this shirt and to be part of this great family.A huge thank you to the fans, team mates, staff and the whole club for their unwavering support. You’ve made this a special chapter in my career,” he said.
