ASSE Mercato: Léo Pétrot’s rise fuels regrets at the Verts

Léo Pétrot, the former defender of the Verts, has cemented his resurgence at Anderlecht by scoring a decisive goal in Thursday’s Europa League qualifier against PAOK, after a successful season in Espagne that saw him help Elche stay in Liga.

From Saint‑Étienne to Anderlecht

Having left ASSE on a free transfer a year ago, the 29‑year‑old quickly rebounded, contributing to Elche’s survival in Liga before joining Anderlecht at the start of the summer.

His move was facilitated after Kilmer Sports chose not to extend his contract in summer 2025, prompting the defender to seek a new challenge abroad.

European impact and praise

In the third‑round return leg of the Europa League qualifiers, Anderlecht, already 1‑0 up from the first leg, secured a 3‑2 victory with Pétrot opening the scoring.

His performance earned a 7.5/10 rating from DH Les Sports +, which praised his positioning: “the ex‑Saint‑Étienne player only had to propel the ball into the net, but he had the merit of being in the right place. What a warrior!”

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The accolade highlighted qualities he displayed under the green shirt – commitment, generosity and an impeccable mentality.

Successor’s struggle at Saint‑Étienne

Pétrot’s successor, Ebenezer Annan, endured a disappointing first season in Ligue 2 and now finds himself out of Ian Cathro’s plans, searching for a new club as the transfer window nears its close.

Pas les supporters see un lingering sense of regret at the Forez, as the club still wrestles to offload Annan while Pétrot shines on the European stage.

This contrast underscores the lingering doubts surrounding ASSE’s recent squad management under its new owners.