Until December 2022, Moïse Bombito (Montreal, Canada, 2000) had not entered MLS via Draft to join Colorado from INH Wildcast. Two years later, after being one of the standout players in the past Copa América with Canada, he sits down with BeIN SPORTS to review how he's experiencing his first season in a major European league like Ligue 1 with Nice.

Question: After taking your first steps in MLS, how do you rate your first season in a major European league like Ligue 1?

Answer: Yes, I think it was a big step for me because, obviously, there is a difference between both leagues and I think the biggest difference for me was the tactical aspect of the game. But I adapted quite well due to being able to speak the same language to connect with my teammates as quickly as possible. I think that had a big impact on my performances because, obviously, I understood what they were saying to me so I could communicate and be told where I needed to be at any moment during the game.

Question: During the Copa América, your name appeared in many headlines after a small confrontation with Messi. Mentally, how did that episode affect you?

Answer: Yes, I think it was a bit surprising for me, because obviously, it was in a lot of the news, and my intention was never to fight against him as it was shown. I just wanted to play the ball, that happened, and obviously, I see that the Argentine fans were not happy with it and made that clear to me. But mentally, I felt fine. I know my worth and I’m not going to be stopped by some comments on the internet. And I feel that I wasn’t judged for it and my national team training teammates supported me a lot. That really helped me a lot, of course.

Question: Still, you had a great tournament with Canada reaching the semifinals, and I imagine you had many offers in the summer. Why did you choose Nice?

Answer: Yes, I had many offers after the Copa América. But I chose Nice because of the human factor. You know, many top clubs look for a player who performs well. But they don't care about their mentality, their background, or what their family does. But I felt like the organization here focused on who I am, and I felt it was a good choice for me. And they really care about their players, they want to develop them, and they take the time to do so. So, I felt like it was the right club for me because I’m also on the rise. It happened very quickly for me, I started playing when I was 23 years old at the professional level, so my career had just started. And in such a superior league like this, people have high expectations. But this club knows that I started very recently and that it will take time for me to adapt. They have shown me a lot of security and confidence, so I am very proud of my choice.

Question: You are the third player of Nice with the most minutes played this season. Did you expect to have this much involvement in your first year?

Answer: To be honest, I just expected to learn as much as I could. I didn’t think I would play this much in my first season. But that just speaks to how much they trust their players and, when they know their qualities, they aren’t afraid to put them in big games. I feel like I’ve responded well to that challenge. Obviously, there will be learning moments for me, but it’s part of the process and I’m not going to shy away from those challenges.

Question: As a center-back, what is the biggest difference you've noticed between MLS and Ligue 1?

Answer: I think the speed of play is superior, of course. And like I said before, the tactical level here is a bit faster and you have to understand it. It feels like a chess match where you have to play very smart, and everything has to be thought through. You can't just run and make something happen like in MLS. You have to wait for the right moment to see that the game opens up. And I think, as a defender, obviously playing against high-level attackers like Lacazette, Ousmane Dembélé… and players of that caliber, I think it will help me evolve and learn. So yes, that is the biggest difference.

Question: You’re still 24 years old and playing next to a very experienced center-back like Dante. Do you often ask for advice?

Answer: Yes, all the time. I think he's a mentor not just for me, but for all the athletes on our team. No one is afraid to ask him, and he’s not afraid to ask you what you should have done, or what’s best in that match. I feel like I’m a sponge for him and I think I need to understand and take in as much information as I can while he’s here. Because obviously, he will soon be turning 42 years old and won’t be here for much longer. So yes, I need to absorb as much information as I can.

Question: You’re one of the best center-backs in Ligue 1 with the ball at your feet. In the United States, did they demand as many responsibilities from you as Frank Haise?

Answer: In the United States, I had two coaches. The first one wanted me to try to open up more, and the second one wanted me to play as simply as possible. I feel like with both experiences, I managed to extract the best from both coaches to understand that at times I can take the ball a bit more… and at others, I just need to play as simply as possible. I feel like that has shown here. Obviously, there will be times when players won’t be successful, but that’s the reality of the game. You won’t have 100% accuracy. Football is a game of mistakes and you have to learn from them.

Question: Moreover, you're a very fast and solid defender in tackles. But, in your opinion, which aspect do you think you still have room for improvement?

Answer: I would say in my positioning and how I defend in the box. I feel like that should be something I put more emphasis on improving. I also think my distribution with the ball could be a bit better. But, as I said, it’s just part of the process and I know I’ll work on it.

Question: Despite things not going as expected in Europa League, you’ve grown a lot in Ligue 1 since the start of the season. Are you convinced that you can make it into Champions League?

Answer: We still have a couple of games left, and we’re in a good position to make it into Champions League next season. Nothing is guaranteed. But if we keep trusting our abilities and focus on the coach’s plan, I think we’ll be fine to have a good finish to the year. As I said, nothing is guaranteed. But we trust in it.

Question: You still have a long-term contract, and I imagine you haven’t even considered this question. But would making it into Champions be a good reason to decide to stay at Nice next season?

Answer: Yes, obviously, of course. I don’t want to leave this club. Even if we don’t make it into Champions League. But, obviously, it’s a dream of mine to play in such a big stage like this, and I’m very excited to do it with this club because it gives me a lot of security and confidence. I want to give back and play at the highest level.