Bilal Nadir: OM Midfielder Targets Success After Injury Setback

Bilal Nadir scored his first professional goal in Olympique de Marseille's 5-1 victory over Le Havre last Sunday. The milestone was even more meaningful for the young player as it came after his recent battle to recover from an injury.

Last January, Nadir sustained a partial cruciate ligament injury, sidelining him for 248 days and causing him to miss 31 matches. The 21-year-old had a challenging start with Marseille's senior team after initially playing for the club's B team.

This came following his 2021 move from OGC Nice, where he spent his entire youth career. Nadir cracked OM's first team in 2023 but dealt with an injury setback the following year that hindered his development.

After nearly a year off the pitch, the young midfielder returned last November, starting with Marseille's B team against FC Lucciana. Later that month, he featured for the senior squad, playing 12 minutes against RC Lens.

In the match against Le Havre, Nadir played 45 minutes, his longest appearance of the season. He made the most of his time on the field by scoring a goal, ensuring he caught the attention of manager Roberto De Zerbi.

After the victory, Nadir spoke to the media about his current situation at the club as he aims to become a key player in midfield that De Zerbi can rely on.

"Things are going well, day by day, with everyone. The competition is really healthy, especially with [Ismaël Koné], who I get along with really well. The decisions have been made. [Koné] took my place today for 45 minutes, and I'm happy for him too. Honestly, if you'd asked me at the start of the year if I expected to play this much, I’d have said no, but now, I’m happy with how things are going and I'll keep working hard to keep it up."

"I sometimes have trouble expressing myself, but [Sunday night], I think I was just really happy with the goal. I've been through some tough times, especially last year. [Sunday night felt] like a big relief, and I’m really proud of the work I’ve put in. I’m genuinely happy. I hope it’s not the last one. Overall, it’s just so much joy and pride."

Nadir will look to carry this positive momentum into OM's next Ligue 1 McDonald's fixture, which will be against Stade Rennais on Saturday at Roazhon Park.

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