Marseille faith in Nasri and Taiwo
Wednesday, August 3, 2005
Article summary
Olympique de Marseille have extended the contracts of promising youngsters Samir Nasri and Taye Taiwo.
Article body
Nasri impresses
Nasri, 18, was in France’s 2004 UEFA Under-17 European Championship winning side and broke into the Marseille first team last season. He is a talented playmaker and impressed in the 24 league appearances he made last season. Nasri scored his first goal for Marseille during his side’s UEFA Intertoto Cup third-round tie at home to BSC Young Boys last month.
Taiwo on form
Nigerian Taiwo, 20, arrived at Marseille in January 2005. He is a full-back and has played just four league games, but was in excellent form this summer for the Nigeria Under-20 side which reached the final of the FIFA World Youth Championship in the Netherlands. Taiwo scored his first goal for his club in the 3-2 first-leg defeat of Young Boys in Berne on 16 July.
Lazio test
Marseille play the second leg of their Intertoto Cup semi-final against S.S. Lazio tonight at the Stade Vélodrome. Marseille hold a slight advantage after drawing 1-1 in the opening leg at the Stadio Olimpico last week.
