Boukari “doesn’t put himself under too much pressure”

This Monday evening, Razak Boukari was introduced to the media. Arriving from Lens, the forward is eagerly waited in Brittany, to help solving the team’s attacking weaknesses.

Since the beginning of the season, Frédéric Antonetti has been juggling with a real attacking jigsaw. Last summer, the departures of Gyan, Briand, Sow, Bangoura or even Badiane were only compensated by Montaño’s recruitment. On the pitch, the attacking weakness is obvious: only 18 goals in as many games. Immediately after the winter transfer window was opened, Stade Rennes was strengthened by a first, expected recruit: Razak Boukari arrived from Lens.

"Last summer, we recruited very early. This explains our good start of the season. We have decided to apply the same strategy for the winter transfer window”, Pierre Dréossi explained this Monday evening. Razak Boukari has signed a four years and a half contract with Stade Rennes. The transfer fee is thought to be in the region of four million euros, according to figures from the media. The Breton general manager refuses to confirm: “I can’t tell you how much. But many mistakes have been written!"

The man of the situation?

The 23 years old Togolese presents himself as a winger in Rennes’ tactics. “I played a lot of games at this position in the past. I can also play at centre forward. I want to bring my ability to play always forwards, and my good heading skills”, the newcomer explained during the press conference held to introduce him.

In 147 games with the Lens shirt, the striker scored fifteen goals. Is Razak Boukari the eagerly awaited player, able to tear defences apart? Frédéric Antonetti had announced that the recruit would not be in the same class as a Lisandro, an Erding or a Rémy. “I’ve understood that experienced players who score 20 goals a season will not come to Stade Rennes. We need to look for players who haven’t shown all their potential yet and are able to explode here.”

It remains to be seen whether Boukari will be able to make his mark rapidly in Brittany. This doesn’t seem to scare the former Lens man: “I don’t put pressure on myself. You know, I started in front of the Lens supporters… It was incredible but really daunting. I only need to get used to the squad in order to be performant.”

Benjamin Keltz - Le Mensuel de Rennes

- Photo : Romain Joly - Rennes.lemensuel.com