One To Watch
Ligue 1 Meets Edimilson Fernandes
Transfer window: To Brest rather than Montpellier
Edimilson Fernandes had long wanted to join Ligue 1 McDonald's and return to a French-speaking championship, after having travelled a lot in previous seasons.
Having left Switzerland at the age of 20, the 28-year-old player is playing in a sixth different country, in France and at Stade Brestois 29. Over the period, Fernandes has worn the colours of six teams: West Ham, Fiorentina, Mainz, Bielefeld, Young Boys and Brest.
Long tracked by Montpellier HSC last summer, Edimilson Fernandes finally favored the Breton side at the very end of the transfer window (he signed on August 30): undoubtedly seduced by the idea of playing in the Champions League, he who had tasted Europe at the beginning of his career with his first club FC Sion (15/16, Europa League). A return to his first club had even been mentioned during the summer for the one who was less used on the side of Mainz. But it is indeed with the Ty Zefs that Fernandes chose to relaunch himself.
Midfielder and nothing but midfielder at Brest?
Known for being a real "Swiss army knife" since his first steps as a professional, Edimilson Fernandes was recruited by Stade Brestois to play in midfield. Wednesday in Prague, he was thus preferred to Hugo Magnetti. For his coach Eric Roy, it seemed normal to use him in the position in which "he was trained and where he revealed himself". "I'm really a midfielder, even if I can play at the back," explained the player upon his arrival in Finistère.
This versatility that is like a second skin for him. Because during his career, Edimilson Fernandes has had trouble settling into a position, having been positioned as a midfielder in front of the defense, winger, number 8, or even right-back with Switzerland. At Mainz, he even played in central defense on the right of a two.
Not really a goalscorer
"Honestly, I was a little surprised to find myself alone there, like that, in this place," confided the man of the match, after scoring his first goal in the Champions League, Wednesday in Prague. "When I saw the ball coming back towards me, I hesitated, I even thought about controlling it. But I made this effort, as it came."
A statement that shows that playing the role of goalscorer is unusual for the Swiss midfielder. Although he scored a sumptuous volley, Edimilson Fernandes is not used to scoring. Notably credited with two goals with the Nati, the last one dates to June 2021 against Liechtenstein, and the newest Ty Zef has not found the net in the league since May 2022 during his time in Bern.
He hesitated to choose Switzerland
In November 2015, the man who at the time (19 years old) confirmed all his talent with FC Sion after revealing himself at Fully declared "hesitating" to choose Switzerland as his national team, after having already declined a call-up with the U21s in October. Also able to turn to Portugal or Cape Verde, Edi finally joined the Nati a few months later (March 2016).
Called up again with the Nati!
Used more by Eric Roy in the Champions League, where he participated in the 4 matches of the Ty Zefs (3 times a starter) than in Ligue 1 McDonald's (3 matches), Fernandes has reaped the benefits of his club's exploits.
Selected 32 times in 8 years, the player returned to the Nati last month. Coach Murat Yakin called him up to face Serbia and Denmark, against whom he played in the right-back position... No matter, the Brest player is now wearing the Swiss jersey again a year after the last time.
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