AC Milan’s Mike Maignan currently holds the coveted role of France’s first-choice goalkeeper, but Lille’s Lucas Chevalier believes he might need to leave his current club to achieve the same status, Soccernet.football reports.
The 23-year-old, who recently earned his first call-up to the national squad, has suggested that moving to a larger European team may be essential for him to secure the No.1 jersey for Les Bleus.
Chevalier’s national team selection was seen as a reward for his impressive early-season form, with standout performances in the UEFA Champions League, where he helped Lille secure crucial wins, including a 1-0 victory over Real Madrid.
This achievement is especially significant as Chevalier has consistently proven himself since breaking into Lille’s first team, following in the footsteps of Maignan, who also rose to prominence at Lille before moving to AC Milan.
Despite his ambition to become France’s top goalkeeper, Chevalier acknowledges the challenge of reaching Maignan’s level while still at Lille.
“I play for Lille. All the players play for big European clubs. Lille is a big European club, but there are steps above,” he started as per GFNF.
In a recent press conference, he elaborated, “The No.1 spot depends on a very big club. You have to have this lucidity.”
Chevalier, who remains under contract with Lille until 2027 and is currently valued at €25 million, has been a key figure for the club since his debut and has drawn attention from both domestic and international media.
A product of Lille’s youth academy, Chevalier was part of the team during their 2020–21 Ligue 1 title-winning season, where he initially served as the third-choice keeper behind Maignan and Orestis Karnezis.
Now firmly established as Lille’s first-choice goalkeeper, Chevalier’s sights are set on bigger ambitions, with hopes that a move to a larger club could position him as France’s future No.1.