Nice manager Lucien Favre hails Jean Michael Seri

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Bengaluru, September 11: Nice manager Lucien Favre has hailed Jean Michael Seri as "a wonderful player and man" after the midfielder's proposed move to Barcelona broke down.

Seri, a key component of Nice's third-placed finish in Ligue 1 last term, had been linked with a host of European giants throughout the summer including Barcelona, but the move did not materialize for some reason.

And, after a stellar and combative display at the heart of Nice's midfield in the 4-0 thumping of champions Monaco on Saturday (September 9), Favre was quick to laud Seri's positive attitude.

"Seri is wonderful as a player and as a man, it's the same level," Favre told L'Equipe.

"He has always been very positive with us. But we do not need much to talk to each other.

"We understood each other from the beginning. It is clear that it was a big disappointment for him not to go to Barcelona.

"But there is a capacity of acceptance in him and it's quite incredible.

"He was away for 13 days, in Ivory Coast and Gabon. He came back on Thursday. And now on Saturday he is here and he played very well."

Seri was superb against the Ligue 1 holders on Saturday (September 9) but it was Mario Balotelli who grabbed the headlines. Balotelli is a player who makes the headlines quite often but rarely for the right reasons but this time he did.

The former Manchester City and Liverpool striker netted from the penalty spot after just six minutes and tapped in his second from close range. In between, Alassane Plea broke clear and slotted in for the home side.

Debutant Ignatius Ganago added a fourth for Nice late on, going round the goalkeeper and tucking in.

Leonardo Jardim's Monaco lost just three times last season when they won the title with 95 points from 38 games, but they were second best throughout the match against Nice.