Friday evening, AJ Auxerre formalized the arrival of Nuno da Costa in its ranks. He will return to Ligue 1, which he left when he left Strasbourg to try his luck without too much success in England under the colors of Nottingham Forest.
Unsurprisingly, Nuno Da Costa will therefore have played his last game in Blue and Red in Rodez (2-0) on May 14, even if the Caen club will have tried to extend the adventure with the Cape Verdean striker.
It is a successful loan. This was a winning move for me. We would have preferred it to continue but that’s the way it is
“We still had a little hope with Nuno, relates Stéphane Moulin. He explained his choice to me. it is completely acceptable. That’s what I told him. We had a deal. For us, it was to relaunch it and re-type it and he was to bring us what he was able to do once he was physically.
So, the deal is successful. Unfortunately, that’s how it is. When players come and shine, it helped us in the moment. and then over time it is no longer possible. You have to know how to accept it. This was the rule between us, since it was a loan without an option to buy. It is a successful loan. This was a winning move for me. We would have preferred it to continue but that’s how it is.
His choice is perfectly understandable, there is no bitterness, no regret. It’s the feeling already – and it’s already a lot – to have achieved something good together.”
On loan from Nottingham Forest and who arrived injured, Nuno Da Costa quickly showed that he had not lost his attacking skills from the match against… Auxerre (2-2). In 24 Ligue 2 games, the Cape Verdean striker will have scored 9 goals and made 4 assists, proof of his perfect integration into the Caen eleven. The Norman club will have tried in vain to retain him.
It’s silly for us because he was a top player and a top guy, but that’s how it is. it’s soccer.
“I too believed in it until the end, laughs defender Hugo Vandermersch, because I was still in contact with him until yesterday (Friday). I knew there would be no reversal of the situation even if I tried to convince him until the end. Now I wish the best to Nuno. He’s still a great guy. He has the chance to play in Ligue 1. You have to understand that too. His choice is respectable. It’s silly for us because he was a top player and a top guy, but that’s how it is. it’s soccer.
He hesitated for a long time. The fans were happy with that because when a player hesitates to come back, there is something interesting here. Now it didn’t, we have to respect that decision and wish him the best. But of course we would have liked him to come back.”