‘He will become a very big player’ – Jean-Louis Gasset full of praise for Sarr
In the opening months of the season and amidst an unstable managerial context, Ismaïla Sarr (26) struggled to justify Olympique de Marseille’s €13m summer investment.
The former Watford winger was even linked with a January departure. Marseille’s wage bill is being closely scrutinised by the DNCG – French football’s financial watchdog – and as a result a trimming of the squad had become a priority for the club’s executives.
However, with the player away at the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal, Sarr ultimately returned to the Vélodrome. Just weeks later, Gennaro Gattuso left the club and was replaced by Jean-Louis Gasset. The interim manager has managed to get the best out of Sarr, who has become increasingly influential.
Having scored in Gasset’s first game in charge, against Shakhtar Donetsk, Sarr also now has three assists in his last two Ligue 1 games. Whilst the interim manager admitted that Sarr could improve his finishing, he was full of praise for his player.
“He is going to become a very big player. He has speed and he is capable of keeping going and repeating his efforts. He just need to master his finishing, but unfortunately, we don’t have time to work on that. He is an extraordinary little guy,” said Gasset following Les Phocéens’ 4-0 UEFA Europa League triumph over Villarreal.
