Ludovic Blas: 'Rennes step was one I needed to take." | OneFootball

Ludovic Blas, with his magical left foot, has been a prominent figure on Ligue 1 pitches for several years. He burst onto the scene at the age of 17 with Guingamp before making a move down the Brittany coast to Nantes, where he quickly became the star man. However, this summer, Blas made a surprising switch from Nantes to their arch-rivals Rennes, becoming the first player in 22 years to make such a move.

In an interview with Matt Spiro for Talking Talent, Blas explained his decision: "It's not easy because I had four good years with Nantes. Some were disappointed in my decision. But I had to think about my career, and this is a step I needed to take."

Blas believes that Rennes' style of play and technical prowess align with his own abilities. He stated, "We all know the style here: Rennes play good football, everyone is technically strong. Honestly, we have a superb squad with a lot of quality… and players like Enzo and myself who have joined. We can bring something different to what they had last season. With what they had last season, and what the new players bring, I think we can do good things together."

Deep Roots in Brittany

The Paris-born playmaker has deep roots in Brittany, having moved to France's west coast at the age of 15 when he signed for Guingamp. Blas fondly recalls his time there, saying, "Guingamp means a lot to me. I made my first steps in the professional game there; it was the start of the dream. They're good memories, I had a good time there."

Reflecting on his growth as a player, Blas added, "I'm not the same Ludo today! Back then, I brought a lot of craziness. I didn't ask myself too many questions; whenever I got the ball, I just tried to dribble! These days, I think about things more. I'm more serious and more decisive for the team… whether that's with the ball, or the runs I make off it to help my teammates, these are things I've learned over time."

Leader at Rennes

Now at Rennes, Blas joins a squad that is brimming with young talent. Rennes had the youngest team in Ligue 1 Uber Eats last season, and Blas sees himself as a senior figure in the dressing room. He said, "My role in the team is to be a technical leader. To be as involved in the play I can be to help my teammates and be decisive for the team as well."

Playing with Mbappé

Blas's journey to Ligue 1 stardom began during his teenage years when he shone alongside Kylian Mbappé in France's youth teams. He fondly remembers playing at the Parc des Princes in 2018, saying, "Honestly, it's unforgettable. It's a childhood dream. I used to go to watch PSG games with all my family when I was younger. So just to play on that pitch is incredible. To score a goal and win the man-of-the-match award in front of my family is exceptional."

Blas's scoring prowess extends beyond domestic matches. His stunning overhead kick against Lyon last season propelled Nantes into the Coupe de France final, and he also scored a memorable goal against Juventus in the Europa League. It's clear that Blas thrives on the big stage, as he emphasized, "You have to like these games… games where the stakes are high. You shouldn't be stressed about playing football… for me, it's a positive kind of stress that you need to tap into."

Despite being a star at the U19 level for France, Blas has yet to make his senior team debut. However, he believes that a successful season with Rennes could open the door to playing alongside his friend Kylian Mbappé in the blue of France. "Yes of course. That’s an objective. I’m only 25, I still have a lot of time left to play. That’s why I needed to change club to improve and go as high as possible. Now I need get down to work!"

>>Rennes-Lille preview: A battle between Champions League contenders