Unlike Giannelli Imbula, Wahbi Khazri’s return to Ligue 1 on loan from England (Sunderland) has been a success story after just three games.
Making an instant impact by scoring a delightful back heel against Marseille on his debut for Rennes, the Black Cats’ attacking midfielder picked up an 8/10 in L’Equipe, which is mightily impressive.
Known for their harsh marking system, it takes a lot for them to give anything above a 7/10, but Khazri managed it, comfortably the best player on the pitch despite not being at his peak, having played very little under David Moyes at the Stadium of Light.
The next week wasn’t quite the same, playing a rejuvenated Nice led by a determined Mario Balotelli, and few Rennes players had a good game, including Khazri, who was given a 4/10, and labelled a ‘flop’.
Excusing him a bit due to his lack of fitness, the French newspaper tried to bring everyone back down to earth after Khazri’s great start, but the Tunisian forward had other plans this weekend.
A tough game away to Saint-Etienne, currently third in Ligue 1, presented itself, and Khazri once again stepped up, going from ‘flop’ back to being one of the ‘top’ players on the pitch.
Despite still struggling to complete 90 minutes, Khazri only needed 80 to be decisive, scoring his team’s second goal from the penalty spot in a 2-2 draw.
And just in case that wasn’t already clear, the Sunderland loanee is described as ‘the good pick of transfer deadline day’ for Rennes.
We’ll have to see if this form continues, but with two home games against Caen and Lille and an away clash against regional rivals Guingamp, there’s no reason why it shouldn’t.
