Boulaye Dia welcomes competition with Esteban Lepaul at Rennes

Stade Rennais striker Boulaye Dia has welcomed the competition for places in the club’s attack, insisting that playing alongside Esteban Lepaul can help both forwards improve.

The Senegal international discussed his return to Ligue 1 and his ambitions with Rennes in an interview with Flashscore.

After spending several years in Italy, Dia joined Rennes to embrace a new project and test himself in a competitive attacking department featuring Lepaul, who finished as Ligue 1’s top scorer last season.

Asked whether the competition with his teammate serves as motivation, the 29-year-old responded positively.

“Yes, absolutely. The aim was to return to Ligue 1 and join a good project after my spell in Italy. Rennes have an excellent team with great players, such as Lepaul. It’s a great thing to compete with him and, above all, to play alongside him. We’ll push each other to improve.”

Dia’s comments highlight his willingness to embrace the challenge of competing for a starting position while contributing to the team’s collective ambitions.

Rather than viewing Lepaul as a direct rival, the Senegalese forward sees the opportunity to work alongside the French striker as a positive for both players.

With Rennes competing in domestic and European competitions, having multiple effective attacking options could prove valuable throughout the season.

Dia will hope to build on his experience in Italy and establish himself as an important figure in Rennes’ forward line as the club pursues its objectives across competitions.