When Charlie Cresswell brought an end to over ten years at Leeds United last summer, he crossed the Channel to Toulouse with regular first-team football his main ambition.
Neither he nor his current employers would have dared to dream, however, about the position they find themselves in eight months on from the England Under-21 international putting the final touches on a £4 million transfer.
Following an 11th place finish in 2023/24, Toulouse would have been content with another comfortable mid-table placing.
Instead, with ten Ligue 1 fixtures remaining, European qualification for only the second time in 15 years is starting to become a very real possibility for Les Violets.
While the gap between themselves and Lyon in the final European spot still stands at six points, the momentum is with Carlos Martinez Novell’s side. Toulouse have won their last two matches by an aggregate score of 8-1.
In fact, since former Leeds United defender Charlie Cresswell established himself as one of Novell’s starters in mid-October, the Occitania outfit have won exactly half of their 16 domestic matches while losing only five.
Charlie Cresswell shining in France after Leeds United exit
Toulouse have not finished in France’s top half since the 2013/14 season. They secured a place in the Europa League a couple of years back not due to their domestic placing, but because of their status as French cup winners.
But with the rising star that is Charlie Cresswell marshalling a backline which stands as the second-best in Ligue 1 behind only Paris Saint-Germain – all the while becoming an increasingly reliable source of goals at the other end of the pitch – the Toulouse faithful are starting to dream.
“Charlie Cresswell’s performance? I’m happy he scored,” Novell smiled after the big defender scored a third goal in just eight games during Sunday’s 4-0 away win at Angers.
“We’re working hard on set pieces. Charlie has had many chances to score from set pieces this season and, today, he scored!
“He played a very complete match and is continually improving. He’s going to keep doing that.”
Toulouse have conceded only three goals more than runaway leaders PSG. Thanks to a spell on the sidelines for Gianluigi Donnarumma, Toulouse goalkeeper Guillaume Restes is now very well placed to secure the Golden Glove.
An award which, while belonging to the man between the sticks, would owe a lot to Cresswell’s influence in front of him.
Speaking of PSG, Cresswell held his own against Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and co in a recent 1-1 draw against Luis Enrique’s side. The only game PSG have failed to win in their last 20 across all competitions.
Cresswell inspiring Toulouse’s European charge
“A great performance for the Toulouse central defender,” French publication Maxifoot wrote after that Angers thrashing, including Cresswell in their Team of the Week alongside the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Marquinhos and the unstoppable goalscoring force that is Monaco hitman Mika Biereth.
“On the defensive side, the Englishman exuded great serenity and intervened on several occasions in his duels to get the better of [Angers forward Bamba] Dieng.
“To top it all off, he brought danger thanks to his aerial qualities and was rewarded with a goal.”
As a place in France’s top half and also European competition dangles in front of Novell’s upwardly-mobile outfit, a goal at the Raymond Kopa might not be the only ‘reward’ Cresswell receives in the coming weeks or months.
Back at Elland Road, Daniel Farke will have to do without Ethan Ampadu for the time being. The Leeds United captain is unlikely to return to team training for around five weeks after suffering a cartilage issue with his knee.
Fortunately, Farke does still have two of the finest centre-halves outside the Premier League to call upon in Pascal Struijk and Joe Rodon.
Yet, with Leeds down to just two fit, senior centre-halves, the £4 million deal which took Charlie Cresswell to Toulouse may be a deal Farke wishes he could turn back the clock on in hindsight.
Receive a digest of our best Leeds content each week direct to your mailbox
