Aïssa Mandi set for return to Lille
Aïssa Mandi, who has struggled to make a significant impact at Villarreal, is on the brink of returning to French Ligue 1, where his well-established reputation will enable him to reclaim a status befitting his extensive international experience.
Mandi left Real Betis for Villarreal in the summer of 2021, right after the Yellow Submarine’s Europa League triumph, with aspirations of playing in the UEFA Champions League.
However, three years filled with disappointments have led the Algerian international defender to depart from the suburbs of Valencia.
He now heads to the north of France with the same ambition that has become an obsession: to compete at the highest levels of European football.
Lille has provided Mandi with this opportunity, thanks to unforeseen circumstances that unfolded swiftly.
Rather than accepting a lucrative offer from Al-Kholoud, newly promoted to the Saudi Pro League, Mandi, who has nearly 100 caps for Algeria, chose to embrace the real sporting challenge presented by Lille.
Following the sale of their young star Leny Yoro to Manchester United for nearly €70 million, LOSC sought an experienced player to bolster their defense.
This need became even more pressing with their upcoming Champions League third-round match against Fenerbahçe, managed by José Mourinho.
The departure of Yoro and the failed gamble on Samuel Umtiti, whose knee issues prevented him from living up to expectations, left a void that Mandi is poised to fill.
Additionally, Rafael Fernandes, not yet in peak form, has not provided the necessary assurances to complement the central pairing of Diakité and Alexsandro that Lille’s coach, Bruno Genesio, is preparing for the critical European fixtures.
Mandi’s arrival at Lille comes at a crucial time. Absent since January due to knee surgery, Umtiti’s return remains uncertain. Genesio recently provided an update on Umtiti’s condition: “I speak to him regularly, almost every day.
He’s better. He’s started running again, working specifically with the athletic trainer, and he has no pain.
I think we have to take it day by day, be attentive to his feelings because it’s a long injury, but we’re doing everything we can to get him back on his feet.
He’s with us now, and he’s going to take part in the training camp. He will not train with the group, but we will take charge of him and take care of him to do everything so that he can return.”
Despite Umtiti’s gradual progress, local media sources have expressed serious doubts about his ability to return to the highest level.
Consequently, the experienced Mandi, still under contract with Villarreal until June 2025, will not be held against his will as he looks to leave a year before his contract ends.
Specialist sites indicate that Mandi is scheduled for a medical examination today, after which he is expected to sign a two-year contract with Lille.
This move represents a significant opportunity for Mandi, a 2014 World Cup player and 2019 Africa Cup of Nations champion, to return to the French top flight after his notable stint with Reims from 2011 to 2016.
It also benefits Vladimir Petkovic, who will rely on the seasoned central defender starting in September for the AFCON-2025 qualifiers.
Mandi’s return to Ligue 1 is not just a homecoming but a chance to reignite his career and fulfill his ambitions of European glory, aligning with Lille’s goals of making a strong impact both domestically and in continental competitions.
