Speaking exclusively to L’Équipe, Pierre Lees-Melou (30) has criticised Stade Brestois’ handling of Stade Rennais’ transfer interest.

Lees-Melou has had a standout season at Brest, by his own admission, the best of his career. “Honestly, in terms of enjoyment, since the coach arrived (Eric Roy), these are my best years,” the Frenchman told L’Équipe. The former Norwich City man is nominated for the UNFP Player of the Season, a prize that he believes should be awarded to Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappé (25). “There isn’t really much debate,” said Lees-Melou.

However, the fact he is in the running attests to the incredible season he has had at Brest. His individual performances have contributed to a collective over-performance at Les Ty-Zéfs. Many tipped Roy’s side for relegation, yet two games from the end of the season, Brest are third in Ligue 1 and on course for UEFA Champions League football.

However, there was a chance that Lees-Melou could have left mid-season. As he tells L’Équipe, he “doesn’t regret” staying with Brest, however, he was critical of Brest’s handling of Rennes’ interest in January.

“It was a difficult period. I didn’t understand some behaviour, from the president (Denis Le Saint) and the sporting director (Grégory Lorenzi). We spoke about it and we didn’t necessarily agree. There are still grey areas. When a President blocks you, you don’t have a choice. Things were handled clumsily but with the season we’ve had, I don’t have any regrets,” said Lees-Melou.

Lees-Melou open to summer move

He added, “The President spoke publically two days before a meeting was planned and said that I was untransferable. What’s the point of a meeting if the decision is already made? There was clumsiness in the discussions. That didn’t prevent me from doing my job. What matters is being beyond reproach on the pitch.”

Despite potential qualification for next season’s Champions League, could Lees-Melou still leave in the summer? It remains a possibility. “There have to be offers, which for the moment there are not. If there are, we will study them and it is me that will make the decision […] But when you have offers that are difficult to refuse, on a sporting and financial level, you ask yourself the question. I’m going to be 31 years old. I don’t feel old; I am still ambitious […] When you’re approaching 31, you don’t think like you did at 25. I have a family life and I’m not far off retirement. I am a thoughtful person and I’m also thinking about the future. Finances are a part but I am not making it an obsession,” he said.