Romain ALESSANDRINI

After a disappointing 2011/2012 season, Stade Rennais FC signed Romain Alessandrini on a 4-year deal for 2.2 Million Euros from Clermont. Having been named in the Second Division team of the year for two years running in 2010 and 2011, this purely left-sided attacking midfielder provided 4 assists and scored 11 goals in his last season in Division 2. The native of Marseille did struggle, however, with disciplinary problems, with 17 yellow and 1 red card in Ligue 2. Initially, he came as a backup, but he literally burst onto the scene in September 2012. He scored a number of goals of high quality, and after just four months was called up the French senior squad. His rising star was stopped in its tracks by ruptured knee ligaments on 15th February 2013 at Lille. In the summer of 2013, he made it known through the media that he wanted to join Marseille. After an interminable soap opera, which turned the majority of the fans against him, he returned to playing in September and scored 7 goals in the season. In June 2014, he got his wish, and joined Marseille, where the new Manager Bielsa also wanted him.