Rennes striker Boulaye Dia spoke to Flashscore ahead of Rennes' Europa League clash with Juventus about his current club, Lazio and several moments from his career. Rennes lost 4-3 away to Paris FC on Sunday, and Dia said he watched the match from the bench before coming on towards the end.
Rennes and his return to France
Dia said he is back in France after five years. Asked about that return, Dia said: "I feel very good. I'm happy to return to the country where I grew up, and to a league that I had missed. When you leave for four or five years, you watch the league develop from afar and want to come back and see that evolution up close. The teams are better now."
Dia also said Esteban Lepaul finished as the top scorer last season.
Lazio and Gattuso
Asked whether he expected Lazio to be this high in the table, now level on points with Inter at the top, Dia said He said: "Yes, I always follow their results. I watch their matches whenever I can. I still have some great friends there, I care about everyone and I'm happy when they win."
Dia said: "No, nobody expected that in those terms, but we knew what the team were capable of. When Gennaro Gattuso arrived with his staff and the spirit that defines him, given how things had gone last season, we really couldn't have done much worse, even mentally. It was a renewal."
Dia added: "Yes, definitely. He's showing it so far; what he's doing is excellent." He also said Lazio lost 2-0 to Mantova in the Coppa Italia.
Former teammates and his role
Dia said he still speaks from time to time with some former Lazio teammates, including Reda Belahyane and Tijjani Noslin. He said: "Not every day, but from time to time with some of them, such as Reda ( Belahyane ) and (Tijjani) Noslin ."
Dia also said someone told him when he arrived at Lazio that he was ready to play with two strikers and knew Dia could operate behind the forward. He said Baroni's preferred system was 4-3-3, but in many matches that season, he and Taty Castellanos played together up front.
Career memories in Italy and Europe
Dia said he scored against Napoli in 2023 while at Salernitana, and that Salernitana's fans welcomed the team with flares when they returned to Salerno after that match. He also said he scored 16 goals in one season at Salernitana and played under Davide Nicola and then Paulo Sousa there.
Speaking about Nicola, Dia said: "Yes, he's a coach who brings enormous energy. When you're with him, you want to give everything because he deserves it. He's the real deal." Dia also said Nicola had just beaten Napoli on his debut with Venezia.
Dia said he has played against Juventus but has never scored against them. He also said his Villarreal side lost the 2022 Champions League semi-final to Liverpool after being 2-0 up at half-time.