Dante tribute at Nice clouded by relegation fight and play-off threat | OneFootball

Nice will honour 42-year-old captain Dante on Sunday, yet the send-off is constrained by a precarious fight to stay in Ligue 1. He would gladly accept it being his final match at the Allianz Riviera, but that depends on the evening’s results.

According to L'Équipe, if Nice climb above Auxerre or Le Havre they are safe and can turn to Friday’s Coupe de France final against Lens. If not, a two-legged play-off awaits, bringing a decisive home game on 29 May. Already third on the club’s appearance list with more than 326 games, playing on Sunday would draw him level with Roger Jouve in second.

The 24,000 expected against Metz will see only part of the planned tribute. The Populaire Sud will present him with a trophy moments before kick-off, with further gestures possible after full time if safety is secured. The match will not pause in the fourth minute, despite an agreement with the league inspired by Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s 2016 farewell.

Escort kids will not wear wigs in his likeness and the players will use their usual warm-up shirts. The National Sports Museum next to the stadium will open a temporary exhibition in the coming days for the 2013 Champions League winner with Bayern, showcasing his old shirts. A Mönchengladbach jersey recalls 2011, when after a great escape he shaved his head as promised and supporters received locks later kept by the club museum.

Dante has never been relegated in a 24-year career. He has dealt with knee issues in the autumn then a calf problem in spring and, though fit, has watched the run-in from the bench. His coaching path should begin with Bayern’s under-23s, and staying up, possibly followed by a Coupe de France win, would ease any regrets.

Source: L'Équipe