Valentin Rongier (30) and Quentin Merlin (23), both players from Olympique de Marseille, have departed their pre-season training camp in Zeist, Netherlands. They are set to finalize a joint transfer to fellow Ligue 1 club Stade Rennais, a move not universally welcomed in Brittany`s capital.
Reports from RMC Sport and L`Équipe indicate that Rennes has reached an agreement in principle with OM for a combined transfer fee of €22.5 million for both players, with Merlin`s individual cost estimated at €13 million. This swift acquisition by the Brittany club aims to bolster their squad after the recent €17 million transfer of captain Adrien Truffert to Bournemouth. Rongier, in the last year of his contract with Marseille, declined an extension and will reportedly be replaced by Angel Gomes, OM`s new acquisition.
Despite the potential strategic benefits of these transfers, Rongier`s imminent arrival has provoked strong opposition among Rennes supporters, particularly from the Roazhon Celtic Kop, the club`s leading ultra group.
“It is with a certain astonishment that we learned of the probable transfer of Valentin Rongier to Stade Rennais,” the group wrote in a public statement. “No need to remind Rouge et Noir supporters of the open disdain this player has shown towards our club… between childish digs on social media and interviews where he said he could `never sign for Rennes` because they were the enemy, Rongier has no legitimacy to wear our colours.”
Released shortly after images surfaced of both players signing autographs at Rennes airport, the statement labeled the transfer “an affront” and strongly suggested their unwillingness to accept the midfielder`s presence at Roazhon Park.
Conversely, Quentin Merlin, another product of the Nantes academy, seems to have avoided similar animosity, likely due to a lack of past derogatory comments. Notably, Nantes is entitled to a 10% sell-on fee from Merlin’s transfer.
Rongier played for six seasons at Marseille after joining in 2019 from his childhood club. He captained the team under various managers and remained a key player, even through last season`s recurring injuries.