Reports last week said Alexandre Lacazette is being “psychologically destroyed” by fans’ booing after his recent comments but his club president claims his words were ‘misunderstood’.

The 25-year-old striker reportedly said he wanted to leave Lyon at the end of the season. Unsurprisingly, he received a hostile reception from supporters during their win over Nancy last Wednesday.

Many top European clubs have naturally been put on ‘red alert,’ despite seeming inevitable he’d angle for a move away at some stage anyway.

Given Lyon’s inconsistencies in Ligue 1 this term, the last thing the club need is transfer speculation.

A 2-1 defeat on Saturday against Guingamp means they’re 13 points behind third-placed OGC Nice and 18 behind leaders AS Monaco.

Lacazette (R) in action during Lyon's 2-1 defeat at the hands of Guingamp on Saturday - where he scored their only goal
Guingamp’s Lucas Deaux vies with Alexandre Lacazette (Photo source: Fred Tanneau / AFP / Getty Images)

Club president Jean-Michel Aulas said that supporters’ misunderstand Lacazett’s comments. It’s clear Aulas feels Lacazette hasn’t betrayed the fans or his teammates. Or perhaps he’s still hopeful of convincing Lacazette to remain at the club as he did before.

Aulas said, “Alexandre is destroyed psychologically because of what’s happened and it was based on a misunderstanding.

Alexandre hasn’t betrayed the club. He simply said that one day if like his friend Samuel [Umtiti] he could go play for Barcelona or if like Karim Benzema, who left for Real Madrid and everyone was happy for him, he could go to a big club, he might.

Lacazette has proven his worth as Lyon’s star man recently and continues to develop his impressive knack for goalscoring too.

23 goals across all competitions this term just reiterate this and his frustrations are understandable.

With that being said, it all creates unnecessary friction within the side, whether through Lacazette’s mouth, the fan’s misunderstanding or the media’s mischief.