PROFILE | Nice’s Melvin Bard silences the doubters

Melvin Bard had been in a continuous state of having to prove his credentials, week in, week out for months on end. For two consecutive seasons, he had to contend with players who had not necessarily come to provide competition but to replace him entirely. Amid doubts that the left-back could push on and deliver on the potential that he showed when he came through the ranks at Lyon, Joe Bryan was recruited on loan in the 2022/23 season. The Englishman, however, failed to dislodge Bard, who upped his level to retain his starting place, firstly under Lucien Favre and then later under Didier Digard. 

However, perhaps not sufficiently to convince Nice’s hierarchy that he was good enough to be the No.1 in his position. Le Gym once again made recruiting a left-back a priority in the summer of 2023. Lucas Digne was reportedly a target, although that move never took form. That was perhaps a sliding doors moment in Bard’s career. Had he arrived, the Aston Villa full-back, who recently returned to the France national team, would have almost certainly dislodged the more inexperienced Bard. 

A potential opening in the France set-up for Bard

Ultimately, Romain Perraud arrived on loan from Southampton. Just as he did against Bryan, Bard won the competition against his compatriot, featuring 34 times in all competitions. A stalwart in the best defence in Ligue 1 last season, his name was linked to Manchester United last January, whilst there was even brief talk of a France call-up. 

“[A call-up to] the France squad would be the Holy Grail. It’s every footballer’s dream. You think about it, but you don’t focus on it. I work every day towards this objective. I am not in a hurry. I am having a good season and I will have to back it up,” he said back in March. Both Bryan and Perraud failed to usurp Bard, and this summer, recruiting a full-back was not high on Le Gym’s list of priorities. Whilst Ali Abdi was brought in, he is not a like-for-like. A different profile, he has been brought in to provide something different, within different contexts.

A well-balanced and versatile full-back, Bard has featured as both a wing-back and as a left-centre-back this season under Franck Haise, looking comfortable in both, although it is clear that the alternative, Ali Abdi, brings more offensively. Nonetheless, Bard certainly has a place in this side, and it is a prominent place; he has certainly had to fight hard for it.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle