Amine Gouiri: A Tale of Unfulfilled Potential at Rennes

Amine Gouiri, the 24-year-old former Lyon Academy star, is currently in his third season with Stade Rennais. The Brittany club broke their transfer record, investing €28 million to secure the talented forward from Nice. However, Gouiri’s performances have yet to justify this substantial outlay, as he continues to struggle in leading Rennes’ offensive line.

Since his move from Nice to Rennes, Gouiri’s progress has been difficult to discern. At Nice, he was prolific, contributing to 47 goals in just two seasons. At Rennes, however, his output has slightly decreased, with 41 goal contributions in 97 appearances. Recently, Gouiri has been deployed mainly as a center-forward or second striker, especially after the departures of key players like Jérémy Doku and Désiré Doué.

Despite the increased responsibility following the exits of several key attackers, Gouiri has shown flashes of brilliance. His stunning solo goal against PSG, where he skillfully dribbled past Danilo Pereira before scoring with an exquisite outside-of-the-boot finish, demonstrates his innate talent and ability to create moments of magic.

Interestingly, Gouiri has found success on the international stage with Algeria, following his decision to switch national allegiances. Under coach Vladimir Petkovic, he has impressed in recent Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, scoring four goals and providing two assists in six matches. However, this form has not translated to his performances for Rennes.

Crucial Period Ahead for Gouiri

After a promising pre-season and an excellent start to the league campaign against Lyon, Gouiri’s form dipped significantly. He struggled to form effective partnerships with Rennes’ new signings and went three months without scoring in the league. His drought finally ended against a ten-man Saint-Etienne side, but questions about his consistency remain.

Former Rennes coach Julien Stéphan had previously emphasized the need for Gouiri to display more consistent performances. The current manager, Jorge Sampaoli, has been even more direct in his assessment, stating, “I hope he can become an attacking leader but, so far, he’s not.” The coming months will be crucial for Gouiri to prove his worth and secure his future at Rennes.