Recently, Barcelona youth star Mikael Faye officially announced that he has joined Ligue 1 powerhouse Rennes, signing a contract until 2028. In his first interview since joining, Faye shared the behind-the-scenes story of his choice of Rennes, with special mention of the positive influence of former teammate Ousmane Dembele.
Faye said he made a point of seeking advice from Dembele before deciding on his future. "I had the privilege of having an in-depth conversation with Ousmane Dembele and we played alongside each other in Barcelona's 2023 pre-season." Faye recalled, "Dembele gave me very positive feedback, telling me that Rennes was the perfect club for me to continue to grow and progress. His words gave me great expectations and confidence in Rennes."
In addition to Dembele's recommendation, Faye also provided insight into the history and current status of Rennes FC. "Rennes is a big club in France and they have an excellent track record and reputation for developing young players." Faye said, "I believe that here I can get more playing opportunities and training to further improve myself."
The transfer is also a considerable income for Barcelona. According to the official news of Barcelona, they obtained a transfer fee of 10.3 million euros in the transfer transaction of Faye, which undoubtedly brought some relief to the team's financial situation.
For Faye personally, joining Rennes is undoubtedly an important turning point in his career. He will challenge himself in a new environment and pursue higher soccer dreams. At the same time, he also hopes to show his talent on Rennes' platform and bring more victories and honors to the team.
Going forward, we look forward to seeing Faye in action at Rennes and wish him the best of luck as he continues to grow and improve at his new club.
