PROFILE | Matthis Abline disrupted by turbulent summer? | OneFootball

It has not been a good start to the Ligue 1 season for Matthis Abline. The Nantes centre-forward remained in Loire-Atlantique despite his wishes to leave for greener pastures. Newly-named head coach Luis Castro also singled him out, in front of the squad, for his cameo off the bench during the campaign opener against PSG (0-1).

Abline was Nantes’ most potent striker last season with 11 goals in all competitions. The Rennes Academy product has previously attracted interest from ambitious Ligue 1 sides (Marseille, Lille OSC and Paris FC) and even Sunderland enquired about him, but the Nantes owners’ €40m price tag put off his suitors.

Abline’s value may feel bloated, but the Angers-born striker certainly has all the attributes one could ask of a modern centre-forward. The 22-year-old is strong enough to hold off opponents while maintaining the agility to make sharp turns, bursts of pace and dazzling dribbles. 

What is more important for a striker is that he’s capable of scoring with both feet and head, showing good positioning to capitalise on crosses. He’s a decent finisher for a player of his age, and he also has that flair about him, that killer instinct that separates the good strikers from the excellent ones, and his debut goal this season encapsulates just that.

Flashes of brilliance without consistency

With Nantes drawing away at Paris FC, Les Parisiens cleared away a corner kick into the path of Abline. The latter took the ball on his stride on his right foot, setting himself up for a long-range half-volley. His powerful strike took a venomous dip and found its way into the back of the net. “Instinct took over. I’ve rarely felt anything like this; it’s incredibly satisfying to open my account, especially like this – it’s fantastic.”

The following week, he shone again by being heavily involved in Nantes’ three goals against AS Monaco during one of the most spectacular Ligue 1 games this season (3-5). His performance highlighted how Abline has improved his work rate and his vision of the game. Abline’s blend of pace, technical ability, and sheer skill positions him as one of the most promising young strikers in France, as demonstrated by his arrival in the France U21 set-up. 

Unfortunately for Nantes, the environment of a struggling Ligue 1 side vying for safety every season does not look like the right environment for Abline to reach his potential and quench his thirst for silverware.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval