Andy Diouf: "My loan at Basel gave me a benchmark year"
Documentary
Before joining RC Lens last summer, Andy Diouf opted to go abroad on loan. As part of the 'Close-up on loans' series, we take a look back at this choice, which proved to be a complete success for the young player's career.
What was your situation at Stade Rennais F.C. when you left on loan for FC Basel in July 2022?
It was the end of my first professional season with Stade Rennais (2021/2022). I got a bit of playing time with five minor appearances in Ligue 1 (9 minutes in total). But for my second season as a professional, I was hoping for more. So when the opportunity to leave arose, I didn't hesitate.
Was that your first inclination to leave at the time?
Already halfway through the season, at the time of the December break, I had discussed the possibility of going out on loan with Rennes, but this time on a straight loan. But the club preferred to keep me. They told me they were going to need me for the second half of the season. The fact that I wasn't able to get those minutes led me to renew my request at the end of the season.
Did you think you'd have more opportunities to do that in Switzerland than in McDonald's Ligue 1?
Yes, even though Basel is a good club, there was less competition in Switzerland. Stade Rennais is a bigger club in my eyes. It's a club that has big ambitions and sets its sights on Europe every year. And they had recruited several experienced players in my position (Baptiste Santamaria and Lovro Majer in the summer of 2021), so I felt it would be difficult for me to get the playing time I wanted. That's what motivated me to go elsewhere.
How did you decide to go out on loan with an option to buy?
I went out on loan with an option to buy, because Stade Rennais didn't want to sell me at the time. FC Basel didn't just want a straight loan. So they found common ground with this formula.
How important was it that you chose to leave on loan with an option to buy?
As far as I'm concerned, whether it was a loan or something else didn't really come into it. The main thing for me was to be able to join a club and find my place there, to show myself for a year. If I could do that, I knew there would be nothing but positive things to come afterwards.
What about your relationship with the new club?
In terms of my personal investment and my integration, I make no difference between a loan and a transfer. I did the same thing at Basel as I did at RC Lens this season. At both clubs, I was very well integrated.
Did you find what you were looking for in Basel?
The club gave me a benchmark year. It was good to have my first season with some playing time. I wanted to gain some experience and get my first taste of a European Cup. That gave me confidence for the future. When I went out on loan, I thought it would be for a year. My aim was to explode there and then come back to Rennes, or else Basel would sell me at the end. It was a new experience. I wanted to show what I could do. And I succeeded in being decisive and taking an important place in the team.
Did you have any offers other than FC Basel?
I had several transfer offers on the table, but as I said, Stade Rennais didn't want to sell me, and I didn't want to move abroad either. I've also had loans without an option to buy, which didn't really suit the clubs. There was an offer from FC Basel, who were in the Europa League play-offs. I thought we could qualify, which would give me a great deal of exposure.
Do you remember how you reacted when you heard about FC Basel's interest and the prospect of moving abroad?
I was spontaneously interested, but I didn't go for it straight away. I needed to talk to the coach and consult my family, who also urged me to do it. There were some fears, because it was a first for me. It was the first time I'd left my training club and gone abroad. But I also knew that there would be French players there (Andy Pelmard, Jean-Kévin Augustin and Hugo Vogel) so there would be a part of the dressing room I could easily talk to (there were also several French speakers in the dressing room). I was able to speak to the coach (Alexander Frei), with whom I also communicated in French. All that reassured me.
How important was it to you that the coach was Alexander Frei, a former Rouge et Noir?
More than his time at Stade Rennais, it was the fact that he speaks French and was a great player that helped convince me. What's more, we got on really well. He told me he knew who I was. He had taken the time to analyse my game and find out about me. The coach knew my strengths and weaknesses and how he was going to use me. The project became very clear to me.
What moments during your season on loan did you feel were decisive for the rest of your career?
Reaching the semi-finals of the Conference League gave me a lot of exposure. There were a lot of people following us. It was good for me to play in Europe. I also know that a lot of people saw the games against Nice, or that members of RC Lens came to watch me during the semi-final at home against Fiorentina. These are the types of games that worked in my favour.
But at the time, were you aware that you were achieving important things in your young career?
I realised that my performances were being watched. We players pay attention to what is said about us. When Basel started to progress in the competition, I got good feedback from those around me. I knew it was going to have positive consequences.
Like the call-up to the U-21 squad?
Indeed, the U23s were another piece of good news! I'd never been there before I went to Switzerland. I didn't have enough status at the time. Let's just say that I wasn't an indisputable starter for the national team. This loan clearly enabled me to aim higher.
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