Nayef Aguerd hailed by centre-back partners for professionalism, progress and leadership | OneFootball

Three captains who have partnered Nayef Aguerd at centre-back chart his rise and character across club and country. According to L'Équipe, under Roberto De Zerbi at Marseille he starts when fit, having returned to Ligue 1 this summer after West Ham and a loan at Real Sociedad.

He first broke through at Dijon from 2018-2020, then consolidated at Rennes from 2020-2022. The Morocco international, 29, has 57 caps and two goals, and is again operating at his best, among the division’s leading centre-backs.

At Dijon, Wesley Lautoa recalls a raw arrival and an overzealous first drill that left Benjamin Jeannot on the deck, followed by laughter and apologies. Team-mates teased him about calf cramps. He still had to grow in physique, tactics, focus and craft, yet already looked a modern defender.

At Rennes, Damien Da Silva says their partnership clicked quickly, helped by a shared instinct to cover. Aguerd’s openness meant he sought reassurance, even mid-game after an error, which sped up corrections. The Champions League helped, and the pair set a heading contest, scoring seven league goals and spending 30 minutes after training on headers.

For Morocco, Romain Saïss says Aguerd kept asking for guidance and has advanced in every area. Still strong on his left foot, he now takes fewer risks, reads the game better and has added power. Saïss sees a complete centre-back who is starting to lead, and urges him to make himself heard at Marseille.

Source: L'Équipe