Maxime Lopez, a great property. A natural product of Olympique de Marseille’s educational center, Minot learned his trade there before taking off in 2020, after 150 games played with the professionals (5 passes). An exit that the Marseille native recently took up in an interview with Média Carré. “Before my last season with OM, I made the decision to make it bigger for another year so that the club could get compensation. It’s my favourite club. . . He may not see me leaving and the club may not receive anything. “Efectivo. No we’re going to lie. There is so much cash out there nowadays, players know that when they are free, the cash they deserve to pass to the club will go into their pocket. At that point, I’m not interested. “
This is a rare attitude in fashionable football, where players tend to leave as free agents to collect a giant signing bonus. Maxime Lopez, on the other hand, listened to his heart. Which he also did when he signed for Sassuolo. There, the midfielder born in ’97 continued his evolution and discovered Italy’s tactical and defensive ripassur. After two-and-a-half years, the former OM player was very close to signing for Brighton in the 2023 winter transfer window. In the end, due to a lack of agreement between the two clubs, he was left on the bench to finish his season at the green-and-black club. But when the summer transfer window arrived, the Frenchman again preferred to move elsewhere.
Followed by Inter Milan and Napoli according to the Italian press, it nevertheless took a different course. After 101 games for Sassuolo (4 goals, 2 assists), he arrived on loan at Fiorentina with an option to buy. The Viola, who wanted to perceive the departure of Sofyan Amrabat to Manchester United (on loan), bet specifically on him and Arthur. However, his arrival was unforeseen for Cédric Canale, a journalist specialising in Italian football, with whom we contacted through us. ” Maxime Lopez arrived at Fiorentina in the final hours of the summer transfer window. It’s an unforeseen signing, although in August his call was related to several teams, especially in Italy. “
He continued: “At Sassuolo, the 26-year-old Frenchman was a staple, the regista of the team as they say in Italy. The game went through him, whether it was in the midfield of two or three, he “was in the starting eleven. In 3 seasons he gained credibility in Italy, and his departure, combined with Frattesi’s departure to Inter, has created wonderful disarray for Sassuolo, who are currently ranked 19th in the league. The Frenchman, meanwhile, continued his brilliant performances in Florence. After two games as a starter, the 26-year-old was sent off against Napoli on August 27. He then alternated between starting and coming on as a substitute. This season he has made 23 appearances in all competitions, but only thirteen as a starter.
Maxime Lopez scored the last penalty in the penalty shootout against Bologna in the Coppa Italia on 9 January. But beyond the numbers, the player’s performances are not necessarily unanimous on the other side of the Alps. Lopez, who has not established himself as the undisputed starter, disappoints even some media outlets such as the website fiorentina. news, suitable for the daily news of the Viola. “Do you miss Arthur? That’s the reasoning of many, if not all, when Fiorentina signed the former Sassuolo player in The Last Days of Summer Change Window.
The outlet added: “It was to be expected that the Brazilian simply had physical disorders, so Lopez could be a smart solution to ensure quality even in his absence. But it wasn’t like that at all. Maxime Lopez’s functionalities were in fact inadequate or anonymous. (. . . ) Except for the clever functionality with a decidedly mediocre team still opposed to Cukaricki, the former Sassuolo boxing midfielder has never stood out. (. . . ) “A phenomenon, but as a replacement for Arthur, it was an operation that maybe just was there. But the box said something else. ” Quite harsh proposals for the player, who alternated between the intelligent and the not so intelligent.
Cédric Canale is more of the same opinion. His season has been very varied. Integrating it into Vincenzo Italiano’s highly coded game wasn’t easy. His coach basically uses it in cups (Europa Conference League and Coppa Italia). On the other hand, he only has 3 starts in Serie A. He is Arthur’s replacement. The Brazilian midfielder is highly sought after by Italiano for his ability to dictate speed and Lopez discovers little space in the 4-2-3-1. Even when Arthur had physical problems, the Frenchman did not shine in Serie A. In his 3rd and so far, in his last start (the only Serie A game played entirely with Fiorentina, ed), he lost a ball in stoppage time in Lecce, which led to a 3-2 defeat. And he’s back on the bench. “
And to add insult to injury, the Frenchman’s long career, on loan at Florence, is not assured. He’s not the only one, by the way. But the Italian press believes that there is a possibility that Viola will not continue the affair with him after the season is over. Especially since Manchester United do not intend to keep Sofyan Amrabat, who will return this summer. On this point, Cédric Canale confides to us: “He arrived on loan with an option to buy (which would be nine million euros). Thanks to the coupes, Lopez deserves to still have opportunities to play and change things. But today, a Fiorentina takeover is unlikely. Echoes circulating in the Italian press point to a return to Sassuolo, where he has a contract until June 2025. Maxime Lopez still has some opportunities to prove his ability in the Italian club’s shirt. Tonight, the midfielder, who has been a substitute in the last three games, is expected to start the Europa Conference League against Maccabi Haifa. It’s up to him!