Nice boss Olivier Pantaloni confirms Hicham Boudaoui will remain with the club

Nice manager Olivier Pantaloni has confirmed that Algeria international Hicham Boudaoui will stay with the French club after a proposed move to Monaco failed to materialise.

Boudaoui had been linked with a transfer to Monaco, who could have used the Ligue 1 “joker” card to sign him after the summer transfer window had closed. The rule allows clubs in France’s top flight to recruit a player from the same competition between the end of the transfer window and January.

However, Pantaloni said Boudaoui’s expected departure had not gone through and that the midfielder would now resume preparations with Nice.

“Boudaoui was supposed to leave, but it did not happen,” Pantaloni said in comments carried by French newspaper Nice-Matin.

“Today, he will be with us. He is ready to start preparing again so that he can be part of our group.”

The 26-year-old has been a Nice player since 2019 and has made 207 appearances for the club. During that time, he has scored 14 goals and provided 15 assists.

Despite remaining under contract at Nice, Boudaoui was absent from the side’s starting line-up for the opening two rounds of the French league season. His immediate involvement will now be assessed as the club prepares for its third Ligue 1 fixture.

Nice are due to face Le Mans on Saturday, with Boudaoui set to return to training as Pantaloni considers his options for the squad.

The midfielder had also attracted interest from Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad, but that move did not happen either. With the approaches from Monaco and Al-Ittihad both unsuccessful, Boudaoui’s future has been settled, at least for now, with the Algeria international remaining at Nice.

Pantaloni’s comments end the uncertainty surrounding the player after Boudaoui was left out of Nice’s team for the first two league matches. The manager’s statement makes clear that the midfielder is expected to rejoin preparations and compete for a place in the group ahead of the meeting with Le Mans.

Boudaoui’s continued presence gives Nice a player with extensive experience at the club, having spent the past several years establishing himself in the team. His record of 14 goals and 15 assists in 207 appearances represents his contribution since arriving in 2019.

The possibility of a move to Monaco emerged because of the league’s “joker” provision, which offers French top-flight clubs a route to add a player from within the same competition after the main transfer market has closed. That option ultimately did not lead to a deal for Boudaoui.

For now, Pantaloni has made his position clear: Boudaoui remains a Nice player and is set to resume work with the squad.