Yet, the Jordanian has been making waves in Europe for many seasons now, starting from his signing for Cypriot giants APOEL Nicosia back in 2018, coming from the Jordanian club Shabab Al-Ordon, then age 21. There, he went on to make 76 appearances across three seasons, scoring 13 and assisting 11, and attracting interest from Belgian club Oud-Heverlee Leuven.

In the Jupiler Pro League, the right-winger continued his development as a dynamic forward, gaining more and more confidence on the ball to provoke the opposition and create space in the final third. During his final year at the club, he hit new heights as an attacking threat, averaging 4.38 progressive carries and 2.44 successful take-ons every 90 minutes. His creative output led Montpellier to sign the 26-year-old when his contract with Leuven came to an end.

Mosa Al-Taamari compliments Akor Adams

For Al-Taamari, life in Ligue 1 started in the best way possible, as he scored three goals within the first three fixtures at his new club, scoring a double in the 4-1 thrashing of Olympique Lyonnais. French fans discovered a new dribbling sensation, as Mousa combined audacity and energetic verticality to bring constant danger down the right flank of Michel Der Zakarian’s 4-2-3-1 setup.

His role as an inverted winger brought perfect balance to Arnaud Nordin’s (25) more traditional wing play on the left, combining and intertwining with Nigerian striker Akor Adams (23), the better finisher of the two, with whom he has quickly formed a formidable partnership. Only Wissam Ben Yedder and Kylian Mbappé have scored more than Adams this season, and the Nigerian forward owes thanks to the creative Al-Taamari. 

Al-Taamari now has three goals and three assists in 16 appearances this season, and although his scoring output has decreased since those exciting few first games, his determination to disbalance opposing defences, creating space for his partners to run into, remains an invaluable asset for MHSC’s attack.

Come the end of the Ligue 1 season, his signing will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most intelligent pieces of business. 

GFFN | Alfred Lalande

Despite an impressive start to the season, where Savanier played a pivotal role in securing a draw with key passes contributing to both goals in Montpellier’s opening match, neither he nor the club has found consistency since.

The Occitanie-based team have managed only three wins in 15 matches this season, offering little excitement to fans at the Stade de la Mosson. Despite assembling an impressive squad over the last three seasons, the former Ligue 1 champions have struggled to look like a top-of-the-table team, and this year poses a potential fight to stay clear of the relegation zone. 

For a player like Savanier who has climbed to not only the first division but to the conversation of elite French attacking midfielders, returning to his hometown club was anticipated to mark another remarkable chapter in his story.

Savanier influential in deeper role

While this season may not be his standout, the Olympian has maintained respectable statistical numbers including four assists and scoring three goals in the league. It’s noteworthy, however, that these goals were from penalty kicks, and his passing completion percentage has dipped slightly from previous years.

Savanier’s four assists place him among the most creative midfielders in Ligue 1. At 31 years old, the Montpellier captain still retains all the qualities that endear him to Ligue 1 fans. In numerous matches this season Savanier has not only proven why he is captain, but why true football enthusiasts appreciate his game. Savanier remains a rare breed in football, possessing the motor, technical ability, toughness, and playmaking ability required for the modern game’s No.10, so one can only hope that he has much more to offer Ligue 1 in the years to come.

In recent matches, Savanier has dropped deeper in the Montpellier midfield but has not seen his influence on the pitch wane. His redeployment to a new position may be a sign of things to come as Savanier evolves with age.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Olympique de Marseille had to rely on a second-half equaliser from Jordan Veretout to secure a draw against Montpellier HSC (1-1) on Wednesday. 

Marseille went into the game off the back of a five-game unbeaten run in Ligue 1 and Gennaro Gattuso’s side were looking to finish the calendar year on a high. However, it was Montpellier, who returned to winning ways after a barren run over the weekend, who looked the most dangerous in the first half, despite limited possession.

Khalil Fayad found himself in dangerous positions frequently, and whilst he failed to take a golden headed chance in the opening minutes, he made no mistake midway through the first half, latching onto Maxime Estève’s near post flick-on, rising above Jonathan Clauss and nodding home at the back post. 

Veretout denied once, but not twice

Marseille dominated possession but struggled to create clear openings, in contrast to Montpellier, who were extremely threatening with their limited time on the ball. Akor Adams was particularly wasteful in and around the Marseille box, and he should have doubled MHSC’s advantage after a Leonardo Balerdi error gifted him possession inside the box. He lacked the clinical touch to make it count. 

Veretout almost netted the equaliser just seconds after the restart, and whilst Benjamin Lecomte denied him on that occasion, he was powerless to stop the France international’s shot minutes later. After getting the equaliser, OM didn’t push on and they failed to create further chances. 

Misbehaviour from the Montpellier fans, who were launching fireworks from behind the goal, disrupted the rhythm of the game late on as both sides tried to profit from broken play, but neither side over-committed, and neither side created a chance of note. Montpellier and Marseille therefore had to settle for a draw. Les Phocéens’ winning streak is halted at four, but their unbeaten streak in Ligue 1 is extended to six games. 

Marseille player ratings

Pau Lopez – 6

Leonardo Balerdi – 3

A sloppy backpass in the first half almost gifted a goal to Adams, which could have proven more costly had the Nigerian shown a more clinical touch.

Samuel Gigot – 5

Chancel Mbemba – 6

Michael Murillo – 5

Geoffrey Kondogbia – 5

Jordan Veretout – 6

Azzedine Ounahi – 4

Jonathan Clauss – 5

Iliman Ndiaye – 5

Involved but largely ineffective. The former Sheffield United man was a livewire and he was certainly more tidy in possession but he couldn’t make the impact that his efforts deserve. 

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 4

Montpellier player ratings 

Khalil Fayad – 6

Influential, not only by scoring the opener in the first half but also in the play in general. He found spaces well and distributed the ball to good effect before his withdrawal due to injury on the hour mark. 

Akor Adams – 3

Téji Savanier – 7 

Majestic in a deeper role. His ability to not only see a pass but pull it off, no matter how difficult, is invaluable to Montpellier. His side were dangerous in transition and it was thanks to Savanier, who acted almost like a quarterback in his distribution and vision of the play.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

It is not just the length of Montpellier’s injury list that is problematic, but the names of the players on it. Wahbi Khazri and Arnaud Nordin are key figures for Montpellier, however, both have now been out for multiple weeks and a return is not yet in sight. Nordin has struggled with repeated injuries this season and is yet to get into any kind of flow. That forced Wahbi Khazri to feature more prominently than perhaps Der Zakarian would have liked, and the Tunisian international subsequently suffered an injury of his own. 

Théo Sainte-Luce and Boubakar Kouyaté also both remain absent. The latter is yet to recover from an injury sustained during the rearranged match against Clermont Foot, whilst the latter has been suspended since the defeat against AS Monaco. Issiaga Sylla and Léo Leroy also both miss out on the match against Olympique de Marseille on Wednesday night. The winter break comes at a good time for MHSC, who will be hoping to welcome some players back from injury early in the New Year. 

Montpellier likely lineup v Marseille

Benjamin Lecomte; Lucas Mincarelli, Maxime Estève, Christopher Jullien, Bécir Omeragic, Enzo Tchato; Joris Chotard, Téji Savanier, Jordan Ferri; Akor Adams, Musa Al-Taamari. (L’Éq)

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Gennaro Gattuso has found a relatively settled XI in recent weeks. He has found joy in aligning Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Vitinha up-front. Whilst the Italian looks to once again adopt a 3-5-2, it may be Iliman Ndiaye that partners Aubameyang on Wednesday night. 

The return of Pape Gueye has brought added competition into the midfield. However, Gattuso will likely opt to play Jordan Veretout and Geoffrey Kondogbia, whilst Amine Harit is seemingly the favoured option in the slightly more advanced role. Gueye and Azzedine Ounahi will likely have to settle for places on the bench for OM’s final encounter of 2023.

Marseille likely lineup v Montpellier

Pau Lopez; Leonardo Balerdi, Samuel Gigot, Chancel Mbemba; Michael Amir Murillo, Amine Harit, Geoffrey Kondogbia, Jordan Veretout, Jonathan Clauss; Iliman Ndiaye, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. (L’Éq)

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

The AFC Asian Cup, which is to take place in Qatar, will start on the 12th of January 2024 and end on the 10th of February. This means that the competition will take place outside of the FIFA international calendar and that players participating will miss several matches with their clubs.

An important decision, which is to be taken between both parties, that could significantly affect some clubs’ start to the year, as well as their winter transfer windows. In Ligue 1, several teams are affected, with the Asian stars often being crucial parts of their sides’ setups.

PSG, Monaco, Lens, Reims and Montpellier could all lose their Asian stars

Stade Reims could perhaps suffer the biggest loss, as their Japanese winger duo, made up of Junya Ito and Keito Nakamura, could both be off to Qatar as they are both important players for the Japan national team. This season, they have seven goal contributions between the two of them and would leave a big gap in Will Still’s side, Ito in particular who has started all 15 of Reims’ Ligue 1 matches so far and serves as the team’s main offensive outlet.

Montpellier HSC’s Mousa Al-Tamari (26) could be an equally important loss, as he could join the Jordan national team, whose best-ever finish in the competition was a quarter-final, in both the 2004 and 2011 editions. They would therefore be hoping for the Jordanian to join their ranks in order to best that performance, as the winger is in stunning form with Montpellier, after joining the club last summer from OH Leuven.

RC Lens’ Abdukodir Khusanov (19) is next on the list, as the young centre-back could be looking to join this Asian Cup’s underdog, as the Uzbeks will aim to replicate the nation’s performance in the u-20 AFC last winter, which they ended up winning. A golden generation for the country, of which Khusanov is very much a part, as the 19-year-old has had a rapid ascension in the past year, and is now an exciting prospect in Lens’ rotation.

AS Monaco, on the other hand, could lose an essential piece of their starting XI, as Takumi Minamino (28) could join Japan for the competition, while the attacker is in top form for Les Monégasques. With five goals and four assists in 14 games this season, the Japanese is back to the level he had in his breakout season with RB Salzburg and is greatly responsible for Monaco’s current third place in the Ligue 1 table.

Finally, PSG’s Kangin-Lee (22) could also be interested in participating in the Asian Cup with South Korea, and the Parisians may not be as opposed to letting go of their player as some of the other sides, as the 22-year-old has only made 12 appearances with the side. However, most of those appearances have been satisfying, as the Korean brings a different output from the other midfielders at the club. The decision could be closely linked to how quickly Warren Zaïre-Emery (17) and Fabián Ruiz (27) return to top form following their recent injuries, as well as which players the club is able to sign during the winter window.

GFFN | Alfred Lalande

The injuries are mounting at Montpellier. Der Zakarian was faced with a spate of injuries during the rearranged match against Clermont Foot at the end of November with Maxime Estève, Théo Sainte-Luce and Jordan Ferri all going off injured. Whilst Estève and Ferri have returned, Sainte-Luce has not. 

‘There are some players that are thinking more about AFCON than their club’ – Der Zakarian 

Against RC Lens, MHSC were also without Wahbi Khazri, Léo Leroy and Arnaud Nordin. The latter is a key player but is struggling to stay fit this season.WIth a number of injuries to key players to contend with, Montpellier’s form has dropped after a good start. The club’s last victory came against Toulouse FC in late October. 

That winless run continued against Lens on Friday, and post-match, Der Zakarian took the chance to accuse players of prioritising the upcoming AFCON over their club. 

“It’s difficult because there are too many injured players. There are some that are thinking more about AFCON than their club. They are paid by the club, they aren’t paid by AFCON. The guys need to think first and foremost about their club,” said the Montpellier manager in a post-match press conference, transcribed by RMC Sport. 

AFCON gets underway in Ivory Coast on 13th January, with the final set to be held on 11th February 2024.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Amian was amidst transfer interest in the summer, with Fiorentina heavily interested in his services. However, a move failed to materialise and the former Toulouse full-back remained at Spezia. After Spezia’s relegation to Serie B last season, the Frenchman has spent the first 6 months of this season playing in Italy’s second division. The Serie B club could command €2m for Amian.

A potential return to France?

The Spezia right-back is keen to make a return to France amidst interest from two Ligue 1 clubs. Rennes are keen to add Amian to their defensive ranks and bolster what they perceive to be a young and inexperienced defence. It is unknown whether the 25-year-old would have a preference between Rennes and Montpellier. 

GFFN | Liam Wraith

The French government has acted quickly after an FC Nantes fan was killed in an attack before the game against OGC Nice, with a travel ban imposed on games categorised as high-risk fixtures until the 18th of December. This has led to eight games this weekend seeing restrictions implemented on away supporters. 

The ANS in a statement transcribed by RMC Sport expressed its aim to challenge some of those restricted fixtures, declaring that it will “refer the matter to the Council of State concerning the ministerial and prefectural decrees applicable to matches between FC Saint-Méziery and AJ Auxerre, between Montpellier and Lens, between Nice and Reims, and between Angoulême and Bordeaux.”

Bans on Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 fans deemed ‘very questionable’

The organisation hopes that the Council of State will suspend the bans on those four fixtures stating that the restrictions imposed on these games were “very grossly illegal and unjustifiable” continuing “they are likely, by their late implementation, to create more risks than they are supposed to prevent.”

However, the ANS also wanted to stress that this legal challenge was in no way “intended to minimise the seriousness of last Saturday’s tragedy. No one can doubt the immense sadness which strikes the French stadiums. No one can doubt our sense of responsibility either.”

For the other four fixtures, between Paris Saint-Germain-FC Nantes, AS Saint-Étienne-Nîmes Olympique, FC Lorient-Olympique de Marseille, and Olympique Lyonnais-Toulouse FC, the association conceded that “these orders are very questionable. But they will attract very large crowds. It is too late to shake up their organisation.”

GFFN | Nick Hartland

MHSC can’t get out of their negative spiral, and their growing injury list certainly isn’t helping. Théo Sainte-Luce, Wahbi Khazri, Arnaud Nordin and Léo Leroy are the major absentees. Sainte-Luce was one of several players to go off injured, including Maxime Estève and Jordan Ferri. Whilst the latter two players have now returned, Sainte-Luce remains sidelined with an ankle sprain. 

Nordin, meanwhile, simply cannot stay fit this season and as a result of his calf issue, Khazri played back-to-back matches. In the second match, a 2-0 loss against AS Monaco, he suffered a hamstring injury and will miss the match against Lens. Kouyaté saw red in last weekend’s game against the Principality club and will therefore not feature against Les Sang et Or. 

Montpellier likely lineup v Lens

Benjamin Lecomte; Maxime Estève, Christopher Jullien, Bećir Omeragić, Falaye Sacko; Joris Chotard, Jordan Ferri; Khalil Fayad, Téji Savanier, Musa Al-Taamari; Akor Adams. (L’Éq)

GFFN | Luke Entwistle