Maxime Le Marchand has been restricted to only four appearances in all competitions for Fulham this season, which included only one start in the Premier League.
Having last featured for the Cottagers against Wolverhampton Wanderers in October, the defender was not included in a matchday squad since the start of November.
The 31-year-old wanted to change his situation, which is why he completed a loan move to Royal Antwerp on the winter deadline day.
Fulham defender Denis Odoi has an interview in today’s edition of Gazet van Antwerpen and the Belgium international revealed he contacted Le Marchand after finding out Royal Antwerp made a late approach for the Frenchman.
“I didn’t know Antwerp was still an option for him. Before training, Maxime was still busy with other clubs, but afterwards someone dropped Antwerp. Apparently, it was quite last minute,” Odoi said about Le Marchand.
Odoi also detailed what the Jupiler Pro League side can expect during his temporary stay in Antwerp.
“Max is just a good player. A clean playing defender with a super good basic technique and very good feet,” he explained.
“For example, at Antwerp they already have one, a French defender who likes to play football? I recently spoke with Nill De Pauw and he spoke to me about [Jérémy] Gélin. But Maxime still has more experience than him.
“He is also strong as a leader and physically able to hold his own, but he is not the most aggressive defender. That is in his character, he is a quiet guy. But sometimes he is a bit too good, I think, also on the field.
“A three or four man defence? it doesn’t matter much to Max. In a three man defence he can play both central and left central. In a four-man defence he also played at left back several times, but he is better centrally.”
Odoi also gave his take on why his good friend couldn’t feature a lot for Fulham in the first half of the season.
“He played a good game against Wolverhampton, but then some new players were brought in and he lost his place,” Odoi added.
“But I do think he is a better player than the minutes he played would suggest. He is not a standout player, he will not speak or become a dominant figure in the dressing room. But he is a very reliable and consistent player and will be a serious reinforcement for Antwerp.”
