At the ripe old age of 32, Loïc Nego is now playing his first-ever season in Ligue 1 Uber Eats - and he couldn't be happier. The French-born Hungary right-back spoke to L'Equipe about his atypical route as he comes full circle. Excerpts.
Born in Paris, Nego came up at FC Nantes (when they were in Ligue 2 BKT) but made his name playing in Italy and central Europe - to the point of naturalising in Hungary and earning a call-up to the national team - and so is currently playing his first-ever campaign in France's top flight.
'Le Havre was ideal'
His appearance in Le Havre's 2-2 Round 1 draw in Montpellier saw his long-held desire to turn out his homeland's top flight come to fruition.
"Yes. I would have seen it [never playing in France] as a failure. It was inconceivable that I could have a career without playing at the highest level in my country," he admitted before explaining what he appreciated about Le Havre's offer.
"Not to accept an offer from the oldest club in Ligue 1 would have been a lack of respect. And I could come back to France to play in L1, something I've never done in my career. For me and those close to me, it was exceptional. Le Havre was ideal. I didn't hesitate."
Peripatetic
Nego has really gone the long way around on his journey from a promising Nantes and France youth player to reaching his current position at Le Havre. After an unfavourable contract offer at Nantes saw him cap his time with Les Canaris at just 12 Ligue 2 matches, he signed for AS Roma but never turned out for the senior team.
A move to Hungary followed and contracts with Újpest (2013-15) and Fehérvár 2015-2023) saw him flourish - to the point of naturalising as Hungarian and earning a call-up to the national team for the Euro 2020 qualifying campaign. He went on to be a part of the Hungary squad at the rescheduled finals in June 2021.
'My second home'
Was this something he had ever imagined happening?
"No, really. It would be crazy to say that," Nego explained. "When I was a kid, I used to dream of one day being like Thierry Henry, of playing for France and scoring goals. As time went by, I got realistic and said to myself: why not play for Hungary one day? When coach Marco Rossi called me, I accepted straight away."
Nego says he now feels right at home in Hungary.
"There's love on both sides. Hungary is like my second home," he declared before being asked whether he feels more French of Hungarian. "Its fifty-fifty. I received everything in Hungary, from love to slaps in the face. Last season, I reached the end of my contract with Fehérvár, where I stayed for eight years and was voted best player in the Championship in 2019."
'An accomplished career'
He certainly felt Hungarian when he scored his first international goal - a last-gasp leveller in a Euro 2020 Play-off against Iceland. Hungary scored again to win the match 2-1 and book a place at the finals, and the whole nation leapt to its feet.
"I'll never forget that day. It's indescribable. Scoring that goal sent Hungary into raptures, and people still talk to me about it. It's still the greatest moment in my career - so far. That goal meant I got to play against France [at Euro 2020, 1-1). I also scored against Chelsea in the Europa League in 2018. But it doesn't get any better than that goal against Iceland."
When asked about his feelings on his atypical career path, Nego made it clear he has no regrets.
"I feel that I've had an accomplished career. I don't feel like I've failed," he said. "I won a league title in Hungary [in 2018], played in the Europa League and played at the Euros. The only thing missing was playing in Ligue 1."
Now that that particular milestone has been reached, how much further can Nego go? His next chance to impress comes in Round 2's clash at home to Brest, on Sunday 20 August.
Sok szerencsét, Loïc!
