Article by Mihai Șovei – Published on Tuesday, 03 February 2026, 14:44 / Updated on Tuesday, 03 February 2026 14:44
The transfer of central defender Jeremy Jacquet (20 years old) from Rennes to Liverpool, for 70 million euros, unpleasantly surprised Christophe Dugarry (53 years old), former French international, world champion in 1998.
The former striker has been critical of the amount paid by the “Cormorants” for the 20-year-old defender, who has only 36 Ligue 1 games under his belt.
Christophe Dugarry criticizes the amount Liverpool paid for Jeremy Jacquet
Jeremy Jacquet's transfer to the Cormorants prompts criticism from Christophe Dugarry, who believes Premier League sides have “lost their minds” over the sums they pay for inexperienced players.
In statements for the show “Rothen s'enflamme”, from RMC Sport, the 1998 world champion did not hold back in criticizing the deal, which will take the sportsman to Anfield in the summer. Liverpool have anticipated Chelsea's move and will pay a fixed fee of €60m, plus €10m in bonuses, to secure the young centre-back.
“It's no offense to Jacquet, honestly, he has no fault and we wish him the best because he's a good player. When there are fools paying these sums… Kudos to Rennes. They managed to find a fool for Liverpool to pay 70 million euros.
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Jacquet, who has five caps for France U21. The centre-back has played 31 times for Rennes since his debut in January 2024. He also gained Ligue 1 experience during a loan spell at Clermont Foot. In 2024, Jacquet helped France reach the final of the European U19 Championship, a competition where he was named in the Team of the Tournament.
Jeremy Jacquet / Imago Images
Dugarry believes that in modern football, clubs have “lost their minds” and rejects the idea that these sums are normal for Premier League clubs.
“Very well, but look at the result… Let them continue, all these English clubs, to spend tens of millions of euros. Let's not talk about two-speed football, it's football that has lost its mind. Let's stop trying to make it seem like there is a justification for this. There is no justification. The former striker criticized the amount paid by the “Cormorants” for the 20-year-old defender, who has only 36 Ligue games 1.
His performances will be viewed differently, something he does not deserve. Let us who know football not try to justify this amount by saying it is because Liverpool have money or this and that. It has no value! “I don't know what's happening. It's ridiculous! No, it's not the law of supply and demand. It's ridiculous!”, he added, according to the previously mentioned source, quoted by abola.pt.
Christophe Dugarry (left), celebrating the 1998 world title / Photo: Imago
