Moïse Bombito: North America's fastest defender making his name at OGC Nice
One To Watch
Moïse Bombito is starting to make waves on the Côte d'azur with OGC Nice.
He was once dubbed as the 'quickest defender in America' after completing a 37 km/h sprint for his aptly named former club Colorado Rapids against Inter Miami in the MLS. But now, he's plying his trade under Franck Haise at OGC Nice, and has rapidly adapted to life on the French Riviera.
Before Lorient coach François Bourgeais convinced him otherwise, Moïse Bombito never wanted to be a defender. But he managed to convince him otherwise: "You're tall, you jump high, you take everything in your stride, you move fast, which is very rare for tall players. You're going to be unstoppable; you've got the right technical ability to build out from the back. Then he believed me."
"In my head I was too technical to play as a central defender, it wasn't interesting enough. It was impossible." Bombito told Quebec news channel RDS. Yet as soon as he was convinced, his career started to kick off. After playing at College level, he signed his first contract with MLS side Colorado Rapids where he was drafted in third position. Yet it didn't take until May 2023 for him to make his debut, following a knee injury which hindered his progress.
Representing Canada and meeting Jonathan DaviD
"I remember him as a very friendly, kind person," Lille striker and Canada teammate Jonathan David told L'Équipe last Friday about his first contact with Bombito. "And on the pitch, he was already a good defender, good with the ball, super-quick defensively. It was a pleasant surprise for me. It's true that two years ago, hardly anyone knew him. "That's where I think Canada can get better at finding talent like that, because with a country this big, there's talent everywhere. He still has a lot of room for improvement. But I'm happy for him!"
It was in June 2023 when Bombito would earn his first call-up for the Canadian national team under former boss John Herdman, and then featured for Canada under Jesse Marsch at the 2024 Copa America. "His talent ranks him among the best in the world in his position," his new manager said enthusiastically following Canada's fourth place finish at the Copa America. "I've coached players who are considered the best in that position (Upamecano, Konaté, Gvardiol), and their abilities and raw talent are on the same level."
Landing on the Côte d'Azur
Bombito seemingly holds the perfect profile of a Franck Haise defender, physical with ball-playing ability, and of course the lightning pace. "I'm someone who learns relatively quickly," Bombito told the French press following a 0-0 draw against Lens. "Although if I do need guidance, I'll always go to Dante, Youssouf Ndayishimiye, and Jonathan Clauss."
The Canadian has now played every minute he could possibly play since the start of the season for Les Aiglons, earning the trust of Haise alongside the likes of Antoine Mendy, Dante, and Ndayishimiye in a new-look back three this season. Little by little, the 24-year-old is establishing himself in Ligue 1.
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