Former CF Montreal Ballou player Jean-Yves Tabla will now continue his career in Turkey’s second division.
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On Wednesday, Atlético d’Ottawa announced that they have sold the 23-year-old athlete to Manisa FK.
“We are losing an important player but on the other hand the club should be very proud of what we have achieved. Our goal is to help players grow and take positive steps in their careers. At Ballou, we can be proud to have helped him with this. I wish him the best in his new chapter,” said Atlético coach Carlos Gonzalez, whose comments were reported by One Soccer media.
Tabla joined the Ottawa team, which plays in the Canadian Premier League (PLC), in February 2022. A few months earlier, he had seen his collaboration with CF Montreal end after the Major League Soccer (MLS) club decided not to take advantage of the option provided in his contract.
Created within the academy of what was then Impact of Montreal formation, Tabla was the club’s first product to be sold in Europe, i.e. to FC Barcelona, in 2018. The Côte d’Ivoire native returned on loan to the Montreal club in August 2019.
Tabla scored seven goals and provided five assists in 29 games for Atlético last year.
“My time in Ottawa was fantastic,” he said. I regained a lot of things I had lost: first my smile and then my joy on the pitch. I’ve met amazing people, amazing employees and passionate fans. Every day was full of positive things, what an experience.”
“Unfortunately, I have to go this route without the opportunity to say goodbye to the fans, but that’s football.”