In what will come as a surprise to most, Fnatic has signed Léo "Alphama" Robine after the Frenchman had an unsuccesful 2020 stint with North American team eUnited, with any outgoing movement currently unconfirmed.
Despite the change, the Fnatic roster's move to Japan is still unconfirmed. Currently in a state of emergency, the country has barred immigration until the South Africa and UK strains of COVID-19 are under control. As such, the team's struggles with high latency may continue from 2020.
With this move, Alphama, widely rumoured to be headed back to Europe with Team Vitality, will become the first player in Rainbow Six to play in three international regions. He will also be rejoining his former coach Laurent "Crapelle" Patriarche after having been together for about a year on LeStream Esport and Giants Gaming.
Fnatic's Strategic Coach, Crapelle, was with Alphama in 2019 on Giants Gaming.
SiegeGG thus spoke to Head Coach Jayden "Dizzle" Saunders, Strategic Coach, and Alphama to find out more about the well-hidden transfer:
Congratulations on signing with Fnatic, Alphama! Fair to say this came out of left field for us, was it the same for you? What attracted you to Fnatic and was the old connection with Crapelle, your former coach, a contributing factor?
This is the third region you are playing in, Alphama, and have thus become the first R6 pro to do so. How were your experiences in EU and in NA, and how do you anticipate they will be here in APAC? I am sure you recall your last game against an APAC team well!
Your North American fans will want to know, Alphama, what exactly did not work out with eUnited?
Fnatic's season in 2020, mildly put, did not go to plan. What prompted the signing of Alphama and how did it all come together?
Due to COVID-19, Fnatic's plans to move to Japan were also indefinitely delayed. What is happening to them now and will Alphama be moving to Japan as well?
How will the team structure work now with these seven players?
What are your expectations of this roster in 2021 in light of your 2020 season and this roster change?
Alphama has spent most of his career so far in Europe, with teams such as Supremacy and LeStream Esport (later Giants Gaming), and has been to one Six Invitational and two Pro League Finals in the three years he has been active.
After being dropped by the European Giants Gaming roster at the end of 2019, he had moved to North America to join eUnited. Due to visa issues, it was only in the second half of Season 11 of the ESL Pro League when he got to play, but there, and in the subsequent FACEIT-run North American League (NAL), eUnited only finished in seventh place each time.
It is yet unclear who Alphama will be replacing on the core roster due to the aforementioned travel restrictions, and it is also unknown if Fnatic will have a member of its now-seven-man roster depart.