When he left SCO Angers, Mohamed-Ali Cho (20) looked set to be one of the next great French exports. Already prominent in Les Bleus’ youth sides, the move to Real Sociedad was meant to supposed to accelerate his development, not hinder it.
Despite a promising start to his start to life in La Liga, Cho’s progress was stopped in its tracks by a string of injuries, the first of which came in September 2022, just weeks after joining Real Sociedad. “I had never had so many injuries,” recalled the Frenchman in an interview with L’Équipe.
Cho, lacking in rhythm, failed to carve out a regular starting spot for the rest of his debut campaign at Real Sociedad, however, a strong pre-season gave him hope of playing more regular minutes in the 2023/24 season. However, that did not come to pass.
“From the start of the league season, the manager made his choices. It was hard because I’m an ambitious player and I wanted to play. I tried to stay patient, wait for the moment where something would unblock,” said Cho. However, that never happened, and the forward would have to go elsewhere to gain the game time that he desired.
That is where OGC Nice stepped in and repatriated Cho in January. Whilst he wasn’t guaranteed game time, given his preference to play on the right of the attack – a place nailed down by Gaetan Laborde. However, he still played 865 minutes of Ligue 1 football under Francesco Farioli last season, netting once in that time.
Cho has already bettered his record at Real Sociedad
However, an injury to Laborde at the start of the current campaign, combined with the arrival of new manager Franck Haise is now seeing Cho feature regularly. This season, he already has two goals in five Ligue 1 appearances, and with four goals and four assists overall since joining Le Gym, he has already bettered his tally at Real Sociedad (two goals, three assists), and in 15 fewer games.
Cho, in Haise’s system, is thriving. Cutting in off the right flank, he has already constructed a good understanding with marauding full-back Jonathan Clauss and his runs inside are incisive and dangerous. He has been difficult to stop for opponents, with many simply opting to foul the former Paris Saint-Germain and Everton academy player, which explains why he is the fourth most fouled player in Ligue 1.
Asked in what area he improved most in Spain, Cho was unequivocal in stating that he improved technically. That too shows in his passing, which is more direct but crucially more accurate; he has currently completed the fourth-highest amount of through balls in Ligue 1.
Cho may not have particularly fond memories of his time in Spain, which did not prove to be a springboard to better things. However, he did return to France an improved player and one with a stronger mentality, having traversed difficult times at Real Sociedad. It is that stint that has allowed Mo Cho to refind his mojo at Nice.
