Barcelona transfer news: Todibo arrives in ‘good condition’, says Nice boss

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 19 May 2021 15:43 BST
• 2 min read

Jean-Clair Todibo’s arrival at Nice on loan from Barcelona has been greeted with positivity from head coach Adrian Ursea.

Todibo had spent the first half of the season on loan at Benfica but was unable to break into Jorge Jesus’ plans. Notably, his lack of conditioning was said to be an issue.

The Barcelona youngster had suffered from injury while in Portugal, which had led to doubts over his availability when arriving in France.

Ursea, though, is upbeat and ready to through the centre-back straight into action.

“His condition is good,” the Nice coach said of Todibo. “He is fit for the match against Monaco on Wednesday.

“Todibo’s arrival offers us new possibilities. I can put him in various layouts, in a three-man defence as well as a four-man defence. That fact that he’s here gives me plenty of opportunities and it’s up to me to make the right choice.

“Todibo will bring us more quality in the recovery of the ball and greater size on set pieces. His arrival is a very good thing. I’m very happy that he’s here.”

Nice’s defence has struggled in recent times, despite impressive displays from on-loan Arsenal man William Saliba.

While Todibo arrives at a club 13th in Ligue 1, it is a side grossly underperforming and in a dramatic slump of form. The Barcelona youngster will go into a side that has lost 10 of its last 15 games in all competitions and has won only twice. Indeed, their last home win was 29th October.

Todibo will stay in Nice until the end of the season, while the Ligue 1 side have an option to purchase him from Barcelona at the end of the deal.