Rennes have wasted no time in making a managerial change, appointing former Marseille defender Habib Beye as interim manager until the end of the season, with an option to extend his contract for a further year.
Kyogo completed his £10 million move to Rennes on Monday, having flown to France last Thursday to finalise the transfer. However, it has been anything but a smooth transition for the Japanese forward. Just days after arriving, Sampaoli—who was instrumental in pushing for Kyogo’s signing—was dismissed following a 3-2 away defeat to Monaco at the weekend. Rennes currently sit 16th in Ligue 1, occupying the relegation play-off spot, prompting the club to act swiftly in an attempt to salvage their season.
Beye, who most recently managed Red Star FC, will take his first training session on Friday, with his debut match in charge coming soon after on Sunday at home against Strasbourg. What the managerial change means for Kyogo remains to be seen. He was brought in under Sampaoli’s guidance, and with the Argentine now gone, it’s unclear how Beye will utilise him.
For Kyogo, it’s an unfamiliar situation. During his time at Celtic, he enjoyed stability under Ange Postecoglou and Brendan Rodgers, but his first few days in France have been anything but straightforward. The forward will be keen to make an immediate impact and prove his worth to the new boss, with his first opportunity to impress coming as soon as tomorrow morning’s training session.
