Foot OL – Soldier Akouokou has already made a strong choice at OL – Olympique Lyonnais

OL’s summer recruit in the money-time, Ivorian defensive midfielder Paul Akouokou made his first start in Ligue 1 on Sunday evening.

Lined up in midfield alongside Maxence Caqueret and Corentin Tolisso against Le Havre on Sunday evening, Paul Akouokou shone for his big debut in the jersey of Olympique Lyonnais. Little used at Bétis Sevilla in recent months, the 25-year-old Ivorian midfielder put in a decent performance and has already won over some of the supporters. This will of course require confirmation but the power of Paul Akouokou will do the greatest good to the Lyon squad, which lacked a player of this profile within its squad.

Paul Akouokou I was skeptical, my apologies… I will be your SOLDIER from now on https://t.co/7FczyJCnZn

— Zack (@Zack_Nani) September 17, 2023

In addition to being a player with interesting physical and technical characteristics, Akouokou has already proven that he is a real soldier on whom Fabio Grosso will be able to rely in all circumstances. And for good reason, Olympique & Lyonnais reports that the former Betis Sevilla player was a father on Saturday, 24 hours before the match between OL and Le Havre. The management of the Rhone club had authorized him to return to Seville to be with his new child and his family, but the player showed great motivation at the idea of ​​playing against Le Havre before flying to Spain from the final whistle.

Dad 24 hours earlier, Akouokou insisted on playing against Le Havre

An anecdote that will please OL followers, who want to be able to identify with players with an impeccable mentality, as seems to be the case with Paul Akouokou. After the match, the former Betis Sevilla defensive midfielder confided his satisfaction at having played his first minutes in the white jersey of Olympique Lyonnais. “I just arrived with a group that needs points. It’s not easy, but you have to give everything as much as possible so that you can come back. We defended well this (Sunday) evening by not conceding a goal, but we did not score any. We will build on this base” he declared. It now remains to be seen whether he will start on Saturday evening against Brest after missing the first sessions led by Fabio Grosso in order to go to his wife and newborn.