France defender Adil Rami, a world champion with Les Bleus in 2018, has signed a one-year deal with Troyes, ESTAC announced on Tuesday.
Adil Rami is back in Ligue 1 Uber Eats!
"ESTAC are delighted to welcome Adil Rami, an international defender with an exceptional record of achievement, who will be able to bring his experience of the very highest level to Laurent Battles' squad," ESTAC Troyes said in a statement on Tuesday evening. "He will also bring his personal qualities to the dressing room - particularly his irresistible sense of humour. Adil Rami has signed on with the Club through June 2022."
Indispensable
With this signing, Troyes have added to their squad a player crowned world champion with Les Bleus in 2018. Although he did not play a single minute during the World Cup, he was considered indispensable by several teammates for his contribution to the life of the squad and his sense of humor. Rami amicably terminated his two-year contract with Portuguese side Boavista at the end of July, the Porto club praising his "professionalism and contribution" throughout last season.
Rami, 35, joined the northern Portuguese club on a two-year deal in September 2020 after leaving Russian club Sochi. In 22 appearances for the Portuguese club, Rami played a key role in keeping Boavista in the top flight, the team having flirted with relegation until the final days of the season.
Spells with LOSC, OM
The Frenchman, who made his name at LOSC, thought for a long time that he would never play professionally, the central defender joining the club in 2006 when he was already 21 years old. In 2011, under the command of Rudi Garcia, he helped write one of the most beautiful pages of Lille's history, with a Coupe de France-Ligue 1 Uber Eats double. That year, he was named in the league's All-Star Team.
Adil Rami then continued his career abroad. First of all he moved to Valencia, and carved out a starting berth under future PSG coach Unai Emery. In 2013, he had a taste of Italy with AC Milan, where he joined another French international defender, Philippe Mexès. In 2015, he teamed up with Emery once more, this time at Sevilla, and played 46 games during the season. The Andalusians won the Europa League.
Then, in 2017, he made his return to France, signing for Marseille, where he was reunited with Rudi Garcia, whom he had played for at Lille. Rami made 56 appearances in all competitions for the southern giants, including the Europa League final against Atlético Madrid (lost 3-0), before joining Les Bleus for the World Cup in Russia.
The seasons that followed the World Cup were more complicated for the Frenchman (36 caps), who played only 22 more matches for OM before joining Sochi and then Boavista.
