His natural nonchalance has not always helped convince MHSC supporters of his attachment, however real, to his colors. Even less this season, where his performances have not allowed to wipe out what could sometimes look like indolence. However, if the memory is sometimes short and selective, it is fair to remember that the former Niortais also experienced a prosperous period in Montpellier, when we were probably least expecting it.
Two years ago, the young man was indeed released from the hospital and from a coma, struck down by a severe form of covid-19, from which he miraculously escaped. And while he had been close to death, Junior Sambia decided to bite into life. Resurrected, the former niortais was about to realize his best season under the colors of La Pailladesince his transfer in August 2017.
Nonchalant, but not less endearing!
A full exercise (36 games including 25 as a starter) and rich in assistswith six offerings, a total that even Ruben Aguilar had not reached during his last season in the Hérault (5).
At that time, Junior Sambia relegated Arnaud Souquet to second position in the hierarchy of coach Michel Der Zakarian, with a big blow of caviars for the duo Andy Delort and Gaëtan Laborde. He had also come back so strong that AS Monaco had made him a priority, before finally changing his mind.
Regardless, the time when he was only a fallback solution still seemed far away, and definitely behind him. Qualified as versatile on his arrival, Junior had indeed been used in five different positions, during his first year in Montpellier.
The native of Lyon had also feared, at the time, that the label of “spare wheel” would be stuck on him. Morale at half mast and confidence at a standstillhe had even considered leaving the club for Mallorca, Spain.
The transfer had not been successful, but this crisis had started a change: Junior Sambia had questioned himself and at workwhile the demanding Michel Der Zakarian seemed to have watered down his wine a little.
With the relationship calmed down and the power restored, the premises for a comeback had taken shape when the Hérault technician decided to fixing him on the right side of his famous five-man defensein a piston role that seemed to fit him like a glove.
Need for trust to offer guarantees
Only, one year from the end of his contract, Junior Sambia’s confidence plummeted again. The missed shot on goal and synonymous with elimination in the semi-finals of the Coupe de France against PSG? The change of coach and the return to a four-man defence? Negotiations around a new contract that have flipped over? Personal concerns? Difficult to explain, but the ex-chamois seems to have lost faith again. In his future at MHSC, as in himself.
Good comrade, always smiling in the locker room, close to Mamadou Sakho and Elye Wahi in particular, the one who has never been reluctant to appear at the microphone of journalists, when he was asked, or to give a jersey when he was asked, seemed to have lost the manual that had allowed him to become one of the best centralizers in his league.
Olivier Dall’Oglio then insisted and tried to sting him, convinced that his athletic qualities, passing and even percussion, were not gone, but simply buried in him. Holder during the first four daysJunior Sambia was then again, alternating with Arnaud Souquet, during the first third of the current financial year, without however managing to be decisive, and ending up being in turn doubled by the former Dijonnais .
Objective: to recover
He then became again what he feared: a Swiss knife. What’s more, it’s a little flustered. Result: performances far below what he can produce, and which ended up irritating the supporters, many of whom whistled at him when he received Brest at the beginning of April, but also his technician, who scolded him, after the defeat in Marseille last weekend, at a press conference.
Undoubtedly worried, Junior Sambia is especially saddened by his situation, a few weeks before the end of his contract : “he is aware of the season he is in. He knows that unfortunately he will not stay in Montpellier, that he has to find a way out. And I hope he finds her before the end of the season“, recently confided to us his friend Elye Wahi, in 100% Paillade.
– Sylvain Thomas
New chapter?
And while he expects to have to turn the page, the right side has been relying, since last winter, on a new representative. A man who first let Montpellier know that he was obviously willing to leave his protege at the MHSC, if the club wanted him. However, he also, and of course, put himself looking for a destination which would allow Junior Sambia to revive, just in case.
Lately, a rumor as crazy as it was unfounded sent him to Marseille. In reality, as far as France is concerned, the exchanges mainly take place with clubs a little less ambitious than OM, in Ligue 1, but far from being devoid of arguments to play the leading roles, and with which the rating of the footballer seems to remain high.
Abroad, a Bundesliga formation, like Championship teams in England, also make eyes at him, but at the moment, both the player and his entourage favor the sportsman, with the desire to stay in the hexagon and to find there a club with the height of a potential of which Olivier Dall’Oglio did not stop regretting that it was not sufficiently exploited, these last months. A new base, therefore, which would prevent that of the person concerned.
In the meantime, the former gones hopes to rectify the situation, to extricate himself from the infernal spiral in which he is embarked, and leave a last good impressionbefore writing a new chapter.
Enzo Tchato or a reinforcement?
For its part, if the Paillade officially decides to separate from Junior Sambia, it can count on Arnaud Souquet, under contract until June 2023, and can bet on Enzo Chatoable to play also in the axis.
A 19-year-old who, in all likelihood, will soon sign his first professional contract. Coach Dall’Oglio has been integrating him into his groups for several weeks and offered him his first ten minutes of Ligue 1 in early April, against Stade Brestois. In replacement, precisely, of Junior Sambia.
However, if the MHSC felt that the Cameroonian U20 international was still a bit tight to evolve with the pros, next season, the club would have to recruit. The suitors are not lacking. Several players have been offered to the Hérault club.