Liverpool have completed the signing of Jérémy Jacquet from Rennes for £60m, marking a remarkable transformation for a defender who missed 18 months of football due to growth-related injuries. The 20-year-old’s journey from extended absence to becoming Rennes’ record sale demonstrates his exceptional development trajectory. According to Theguardian.com.
From 18-month injury nightmare to Liverpool’s £60m investment in Jacquet
Jacquet’s career was significantly disrupted during his teenage years when he grew 10cm in a year, leading to complications that required surgery to remove cartilage. The growth injuries, including Osgood-Schlatter, sidelined him for 18 months during crucial developmental years. Laurent Viaud, his former under-19s manager, recalls the challenge: “For Jérém, it was growth injuries, Osgood-Schlatter, things like that. You know you’re going to lose time.”
The extended absence paradoxically fueled Jacquet’s determination upon his return to action. Viaud observed a transformed mentality, noting: “When he came back, he wanted to eat everything up. It was bordering on us having to slow him down because we had to manage him.” The injury experience forged a stronger mentality than players who remained permanently on the pitch throughout their development.
Rennes were particularly relieved that Jacquet retained his technical abilities despite the physical changes during his growth spurt. Viaud explained the typical concern: “Their bodies change, they may become less coordinated – that’s where you have a doubt.” However, Jacquet emerged as a “complete” defender with speed, aggression, strong heading ability, and exceptional technical quality honed during his earlier midfield experiences.
The defender’s loan spell at Ligue 2 side Clermont Foot proved crucial for his development, with Jacquet describing it as where his career “started”. His performances impressed sufficiently that Rennes paid nearly €1m to recall him early last February. Upon his return, Jacquet became indispensable under Habib Beye, starting 11 of Rennes’ final 14 league games despite the arrivals of Anthony Rouault and Lilian Brassier for a combined €25m.
Viaud, who worked as a scout for Liverpool during the Rafael Benítez era, believes Jacquet represents the natural “heir” to Virgil van Dijk. He stated: “I think the recruiters have seen in Jérém the heir to Van Dijk because in a lot of areas Jérém looks like him. I would almost say he is faster than Van Dijk.” The comparison extends to legendary French defenders, with Viaud describing Jacquet as “Desailly on the defensive side and Laurent Blanc on the attacking side.”
