Jean-Clair Todibo is spending his second full season at Nice after convincing the club to sign him from Barcelona. Loan in the second part of the 2020/21 season after spending the first part of the season at Benfica – with Jorge Jesus at the helm – brought back the joy of playing, something he did not achieve at Lisbon, having just made his debut. two games.

Now called up to the France national team, the 23-year-old defender does not hesitate to speak of his time at Benfica as one of the worst phases of his still short career, which began in Toulouse and then suffered a training failure. At Barcelona, ​​with consecutive loan spells at Schalke 04, Benfica and Nice.

“Going through Benfica was the most complicated for me, I didn’t play. But it helped me a lot. I had to look inside, I had to ask myself, think. Looking back, I settled down and found a balance, “he said this Wednesday at a press conference at the French headquarters.

“In my career there have been good periods and some less. “I just think about being in good shape and bringing as much as possible to the group,” he added.

Todibo also talked about his greatest inspirations: “I really like Thiago Silva and Van Dijk, they are the ones I see the most. Varane inspired me too.”