The goal to finally shine light on Teji Savanier’s remarkable season


Some players are simply late bloomers, while many will go undervalued throughout their entire careers. For Nimes’ midfielder Teji Savanier, he may have had that moment that ensures the latter doesn’t come to pass.

Having turned 27 back in December, this is the Frenchman’s first season in top-flight football of any kind. For most, that would suggest that his hopes of realising his potential had passed.

However, after yet another man of the match display as Nimes climbed back into the top half of the Ligue 1 table in their first campaign back in the big time, Savanier made his most eye-catching performance of what has been an outstanding season.

Approaching the half hour mark of their meeting with Dijon last night, the midfielder picked up the ball just inside his own half before spotting opposition keeper Bobby Allain off his line. He proceeded to rifle an effort at goal that was less a long distance lob and more a driven shot over Allain from around 60 yards out.

 

 

That moment of magic was, however, just the cherry on top of yet another superb all round display in the middle of the park, with Savanier earning a WhoScored.com rating of 9.65 having also completed four dribbles and six tackles. It’s this influence in and out of possession that has not only marked out the midfielder as Nimes’ most pivotal player but one of the strongest performers in the entire division.

It’s his consistency that has been most alarming, having started the season in fine fashion and managed to maintain his form where many felt he may fade away. Instead the 27-year-old has continued to flourish, with a simply sensational WhoScored.com rating of 7.87 bettered only by Neymar and Kylian Mbappe in France’s top tier.

 

The goal to finally shine light on Teji Savanier’s remarkable season

 

In Savanier’s case he may be a few years later in his development, but the Nimes talisman should take heart from a player like N’Golo Kante. He was 24 when he was first really on the radar of clubs across the continent, making his first top-flight appearance for Caen having helped guide the club back to Ligue 1, just as Savanier has at Times.

The France international is now considered one of the very best midfielder’s in the world, and while Savanier is highly unlikely to reach that status, his performances this season have proven that he could yet make that step up to the next level.

Should he earn a move in the summer, which seems increasingly likely, his pick up shouldn’t be seen as particularly astute scouting any more but rather a realisation of the obvious. When Kante signed for Leicester he did so off the back of a remarkable average of 5 tackles per 90 minutes. What he was doing was unescapable in France, but his acquisition was still seen as an inspired move by the Foxes.

That certainly proved to be the case, but while Kante improved upon his move to England, he was, in the most part, just continuing what he had done to superb effect in his first top-flight season in France. Adapting the way that he did is no sure or simple thing by any means, but Teji Savanier deserves the chance to continue to prove his quality on a grander stage than he is at present.

Breakthrough seasons don’t always happen before a 21st, 22nd or even 23rd birthday after all. Instead, at 27, Savanier is a ready made star still waiting to be discovered by the wider football world.

The goal to finally shine light on Teji Savanier’s remarkable season