Reading FC struck gold with deal for Frenchman - He's a Royals cult hero | OneFootball

Defender Amadou Mbengue has left Reading to join QPR, but he will be remembered as a cult hero at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.

It is fair to say that Paul Ince's tenure as Reading manager will not be fondly remembered, but Royals supporters will be thankful to him for one specific transfer.

After eight years out of work since his sacking by Blackpool, Ince was handed a surprise managerial lifeline by Reading in February 2022 when he was named as the club's interim boss following the sacking of Veljko Paunovic.

Ince successfully kept the Royals in the Championship in the 2021-22 season, which was enough to earn him the permanent job, but despite a strong start to the following campaign that saw his side emerge as one of the surprise early promotion front-runners, it was not long until his reign turned sour.

Reading were already falling down the table by the time they were hit with a six-point deduction that dropped them into the relegation zone in April 2023, and Ince was sacked shortly after, with many supporters feeling that he should have been relieved of his duties much earlier.

However, while few will have positive memories of Ince's time at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, his decision to sign defender Amadou Mbengue was certainly a good one, and it provided the Royals with a new cult hero.

Reading hit the jackpot with Amadou Mbengue deal

Mbengue began his career with Metz in his native France, but he left the club in the summer of 2022 following their relegation from Ligue 1.

As he began the search for a new club, Mbengue joined Reading on trial, and after impressing Ince and his staff, he signed a short-term contract in September 2022 to keep him in Berkshire until January 2023.

Ince claimed that Mbengue had been a "real asset" during his trial period, and he insisted that he had proven that "he can play a part in what we are trying to achieve in difficult circumstances this season", but the fact the Royals did not give him longer than a three-month deal suggested they had some doubts about whether he could cut it in the Championship.

Mbengue initially had to wait for his chance in the team, but despite Reading describing him as a central midfielder in the statement announcing his arrival, it would not be long until he established himself as a regular in the centre of defence, and his contract was duly extended until the end of the season.

The 23-year-old lost his place in the latter part of the season after Ince's departure as his side were relegated to League One, but he signed a new two-year deal in the summer, and after an inconsistent start to the 2023-24 campaign, he starred as the Royals pulled away from relegation danger in the third tier under Ruben Selles following another set of points deductions.

While the off-field turmoil continued at the Select Car Leasing Stadium in what proved to be the final year of Dai Yongge's ownership, Reading enjoyed a much-improved season on the pitch last term as they narrowly missed out on the League One play-offs, and Mbengue played a crucial role in their success.

The Royals kept a total of 13 clean sheets in the 37 games in which Mbengue featured last season, compared to just two shut-outs during the matches he was absent, showing the clear impact he made on the defence, but unfortunately, his performances did not go unnoticed.

QPR move will not damage Amadou Mbengue's Reading legacy

With his contract expiring this summer, Reading offered Mbengue a new deal, and with an exciting new era underway at the club following Rob Couhig's takeover, they would have been hopeful of keeping hold of him.

However, after his excellent season in League One, Mbengue was the subject of interest from a number of Championship clubs, including Watford, Preston North End and Charlton Athletic, and he eventually decided against committing his future to the Royals in order to join Queens Park Rangers, which brought his near three-year stay at the Select Car Leasing Stadium to an end.

Of course, Reading supporters will naturally be disappointed to see Mbengue depart, particularly at a time when brighter days seem to be ahead for the club under Couhig, but his committed performances and infectious personality made him a firm fan favourite in Berkshire, and many will wish him well at Loftus Road.

After his exit was confirmed, Mbengue took to Instagram to send an emotional farewell message to the Royals, claiming that he "loved every minute" of his spell at the club and insisting that he will "carry our special connection" with him for the rest of his career, and judging by the outpouring of support in the comments section, it seems that affection is reciprocated by the fan base.

Disastrous transfer deals were a common theme of Yongge's time in charge of Reading, and Ince was responsible for his own fair share of transfer flops, but Mbengue is one signing that was undoubtedly a success.