News Focus
- Grégory Lorenzi will depart Stade Brestois after a decade of service at the club.
- The sporting director helped Brest earn promotion to Ligue 1 in 2019 and guided them to their first-ever Champions League campaign this season.
- OGC Nice hold an agreement in principle for his services, though this depends on them avoiding relegation.
- Olympique de Marseille remain strong competitors for the Corsican executive’s signature.
- Premier League interest from Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest exists, but Lorenzi is expected to remain in France.
Stade Brestois have officially announced that sporting director Grégory Lorenzi will leave the club this summer. The French side confirmed the news on Friday, marking the end of a ten-year association with the influential executive.
Lorenzi joined Brest in 2015 and has overseen remarkable progress at the Brittany club. He played a crucial role in their return to Ligue 1 in 2019. This season, he helped guide the team to the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history. They achieved this milestone despite working with a very limited budget.
Club president Denis Le Saint spoke of “great emotion” when confirming the departure. He praised Lorenzi’s contributions to the club’s recent success. The announcement ends months of speculation about the director’s future.
Several clubs are now competing to secure his services. OGC Nice appear to be the frontrunners. According to local newspaper Nice-Matin, they have reached a preliminary agreement with Lorenzi. However, this deal is conditional on the club maintaining their top-flight status for next season.
Olympique de Marseille have also expressed strong interest in recent weeks. They are actively searching for a new sporting director and view Lorenzi as a top target. The prospect of moving closer to his native Corsica makes both southern French clubs attractive options.
English Premier League teams Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest have also made enquiries. Despite this interest from England, sources close to the situation expect Lorenzi to remain in Ligue 1. His departure represents a significant loss for Brest as they prepare for European football next term.