French newspaper L'Equipe have reported Julien Stephan has left Stade Rennais with the club sitting ninth in Ligue 1, five months after Raphinha's sale to Leeds United.
Last season, Stephan led the team to Champions League qualification for the very first time, which followed an unlikely Coupe de France triumph over Paris Saint-Germain in 2019.
Highly regarded as one of France's most exciting young coaches, Stephan had been in charge at Rennes for just over two years.
It was reported back in autumn that the 40-year-old was ' furious ' over the sale of Brazilian winger Raphinha to Leeds United.
Since arriving at Elland Road, Leeds' fortunes have continued on an upward trajectory with Raphinha in the side.
Meanwhile, Rennes have returned to mid-table, and are currently on a seven-game winless run while a title race ensues at the summit of Ligue 1.
“We want to keep all our best players," Stephan told L'Equipe as Raphinha was on the verge of joining Leeds.
"It’s sudden this interest.
"I can’t say whether he will stay or not.”
Ultimately, Raphinha did not stay, instead moving to West Yorkshire, for a fee believed to be in the region of €17 million plus €6 million in add-ons, as per L'Equipe.
Last December, only two months after Raphinha's departure and with Rennes struggling for form, Sofoot journalist Clement Gavard tweeted: "No one is saying he [Raphinha] would have changed everything, but we still have to admit that his departure has hurt this team a lot. Whatever you think of the player."
It appears as though there have been a number of issues at Stade Rennais which have led to Stephan's departure, but one of those could well be Raphinha's sale.
The player himself described feeling 'devalued' by the Ligue 1 club, allowing him to leave for such a small fee in comparison to his market value, but Leeds are not complaining with their Deadline Day bargain.
Since arriving at Elland Road, he has been nothing short of a revelation, and will no doubt draw in capacity crowds when spectators are permitted to return.
His trickery, attacking output, sheer unpredictability and outstanding work ethic would go amiss in any team. Questions will be raised in France whether Rennes' slide and Stephan's departure could have been prevented had the Ligue 1 side relented on selling the Brazilian.
