Former Marseille sporting director reveals attempts to sign France international Lucas Da Cunha

Former Marseille sporting director reveals attempts to sign France international Lucas Da Cunha It has been quite the journey for Lucas Da Cunha. An outcast at OGC Nice, who had had a loan spell at Clermont Foot, a move to Serie B and to Como set the midfielder on a trajectory toward the France national team. It is under Cesc Fabregas that Da Cunha has become the player he is today, earning Como promotion from Serie B and captaining them to UEFA Champions League qualification. His trajectory has not gone unnoticed, and he has played a prominent role in his first international camp, having impressed new France manager Zinédine Zidane. However, things could, perhaps, have been a little different. Speaking on Canal Plus, former Olympique de Marseille sporting director, Medhi Benatia, revealed how, last January, he attempted to sign Da Cunha. “We followed him for one-and-a-half years. We spoke. We tried to sign him from Como, but he was too expensive,” said Benatia, who left OM last summer. Instead, OM signed Quinten Timber. The Dutchman excelled over his six-month spell at the Vélodrome, but amid the club’s financial difficulties, made a swift exit, joining Crystal Palace in a €20m deal over the summer. GFFN | Luke Entwistle