Modena are enjoying their moment near the top of Serie B, sitting second in the table, just one point behind leaders Monza.
Their latest match in Frosinone showcased the fighting spirit of Andrea Sottil’s side. From two goals down, they battled back to secure a 2-2 draw, with Yanis Massolin scoring the equaliser in the 89th minute after an assist from Grégoire Defrel.
Calciomercato report how the story behind that goal adds intrigue. Former Roma, Parma and Sassuolo forward Defrel played a key role in bringing Massolin to Italy. The two share French-Martinican roots, although Massolin plays as a midfielder — primarily as a mezzala or attacking midfielder — with an offensive edge to his game.
Last summer, Modena signed the 22-year-old from Belgian club Royal Francs Borains for around €600,000, handing him a three-year contract until June 2028 with an option for two more seasons. His performances had previously attracted attention from Juventus Next Gen and Milan Futuro, two of Italy’s top youth development projects.
Standing at an impressive 1.97 metres, the left-footed Massolin combines technical ability with strong athleticism. Football runs in his blood — his father, a former defender and well-travelled professional, helped his son gain dual nationality, with passports from Algeria and Spain in addition to those of France and Martinique.
Born in Moulins, France, Massolin came through the youth ranks of his hometown club before spells in France and Switzerland with Thonon Evian, Annemasse Gaillard, Meyrin, FC City, Moulins Yzeure and Clermont Foot. It was with Clermont that he signed his first professional contract and made his Ligue 1 debut at the age of 20. In 2023, he moved to Belgium’s second division, where he scored five goals and provided one assist in 43 appearances for Royal Francs Borains.
A Player on the Rise
Modena coach Andrea Sottil has been full of praise for the French midfielder, saying: “Massolin can cover several roles in central areas and has already improved a lot since the start of the season, putting on four kilos of muscle.”
Although yet to feature in the starting line-up, Massolin has made an impact from the bench, appearing four times and influencing each match — from a decisive move that led to a goal against Sampdoria to his equaliser in Frosinone, with solid cameos versus Palermo and in the Reggio Emilia derby against Reggiana.
