Rennes chief Maurice explains Camavinga, Ugochukwu sales

Rennes sporting director Florian Maurice has revisited selling Eduardo Camavinga and Lesley Ugochukwu.

Camavinga was sold to Real Madrid last year, while Ugochukwu has left for Chelsea this past summer.

Maurice said: It is always difficult for French clubs to try to keep the best players in the training centre for as long as possible. The French championship is one of the five best tournaments in the world but it is neither the first nor the second.

"Teams like Manchester City, Barcelona, Real Madrid, among many others, are looking more and more at what is happening in France because, for me, French players have the ability to adapt to all championships. When we see clubs like Lyon or Rennes, it's difficult to keep them.

It's not an economic question, it's a question of the size of the club. When Real Madrid came for Camavinga, you can't tell the player: 'You don't go to Real Madrid, you stay in Rennes'.

"When Chelsea came for Lesley Ugochukwu, it's very difficult to say, 'You're still here,' because Chelsea wanted him. We obviously try to keep them as long as possible but it is very difficult from a sporting and economic point of view."