What Moses Simon said about losing Nantes captaincy to French-born Cameroon international 

Super Eagles winger Moses Simon has responded to losing the Nantes captaincy for the 2024-2025 season to French-born Cameroon international Jean-Charles Castelletto.

Antoine Kombouarém, who was reappointed coach of Nantes in March 2024, has named Jean-Charles Castelletto as the new captain of the team, replacing Pedro Chirivella.

While Simon has been on the books of Nantes for five years following his move from Levante, Castelletto has played nonstop at the Canaries since the summer of 2020.

The decision to name the centre-back as Nantes captain was met with some controversy, as he has played 133 games, fewer than Simon's 169, and arrived at the club a year after the Nigerian.

On the international stage, Simon has been identified as a player with leadership qualities, given that he has captained the Super Eagles whenever William Troost-Ekong and Ahmed Musa are either not present on the field or unavailable for selection.

Reacting to the appointment of the older Castelletto as captain, Simon highlighted that the coach's decision has to be respected, and noted that the Indomitable Lions star is a leader of the team.

When questioned about the importance of wearing the captain's armband, he told Nantes' official webpage: "We are a team. It is the coach who decides.

"He knows why he is giving it today to JC (Editor's note: Jean-Charles Castelletto) who is a team leader, an international player. Even Pallois, Lafont, Chirivella... when you are captain of the team, you don't do everything.

"We are here to play, not to be captain. There is no difference between us and JC"

Nantes began the 2024-2025 season with a goalless draw a Toulouse and face Auxerre in the first home game of the season on Sunday, August 25.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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