Ibrahima Baldé hits form with five in five for Rodez | OneFootball

Ibrahima Baldé heads to Boulogne-sur-Mer on Friday at 20:00 having scored in each of his last five matches, a breakout spell for the 23-year-old Rodez centre-forward. According to L'Équipe, a move to Cercle Bruges was set up last summer before a medical stopped it.

Formed at Lens, Baldé says his early career was undermined by a pubic injury that left him in and out for 18 months. He felt the mental side may have played a part, and on arriving at Rodez in 2024 he felt freer.

He has eight goals in Ligue 2 this season and has become the focal point of Rodez’s attack. He extended his contract last summer and is tied down until 2028.

Coach Didier Santini and his staff rebuilt his fitness then his confidence, and urged patience with the process. Santini said he did not understand why that medical identified an injury that was not there and raised an operation that was not needed.

He outlines a penalty-box profile, able to finish in one or two touches, play with his back to goal, strong in the air and two-footed. He believes Baldé could score 10-15 goals a season if things are right.

Baldé has set himself a goals target but is keeping it private. Above all, he says he now feels like a genuine professional, on the pitch as well as on paper.

Source: L'Équipe