Openda, Fofana, Duranville: Lyon nurtures its Belgian pipeline | OneFootball

Loïs Openda will start for Lyon for the second time on Tuesday, in the Champions League third qualifying round second leg against Sparta Prague, after a 1-2 first leg.

According to L'Équipe, OL have secured a Belgium-trained centre-forward and have long tracked the Belgian pathway, not only during the multi-ownership period linked to former boss John Textor that allowed player moves and trading via Molenbeek.

Sporting director Matthieu Louis-Jean says the Belgian league mirrors Ligue 1, so adaptation tends to be quick. He cites Malick Fofana, Loïs Openda and Julian Duranville, and says Orel Mangala is set for a loan to Getafe in Spain. He adds Belgian football has progressed over the past 10 years and, like Portugal, is a key market.

The club deploys a dedicated scout in Belgium who reports to recruitment, which systematically studies flagged profiles. The quality of coaching there is widely recognised, and the mentality too.

Louis-Jean accepts clubs such as Bruges are now out of Lyon’s reach, noting Charles De Ketelaere joined AC Milan for €30m in summer 2022. He praises Anderlecht and Gent, and says players often speak French and adapt across systems.

Lyon also track the Futures sides in the Belgian second tier, where youngsters gain minutes and experience at an intensity close to the top flight. Louis-Jean believes it is practically better set up than in France, with OL’s reserves in the fifth tier. He sees the Belgian second division as a quicker accelerator of development, with real talent on show.

Source: L'Équipe

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