Jacquet has made a rapid impression at Liverpool, and his former Rennes coach William Stanger believes the young centre-back has the qualities to play for Real Madrid.
Stanger, who is now in charge of Rennes Under-19s, worked with Jacquet during his development at the French club and has watched his former player make the move to Anfield. Liverpool completed the defender’s transfer from Rennes in July after agreeing the deal earlier in 2026.
Speaking to Marca, Stanger said Jacquet had overcome physical problems during his younger years before making significant progress.
“He had growth problems and that caused him injuries, but once that phase was over he improved very quickly. He could play for Real Madrid, he is better than Huijsen for me. He is a mixture of Varane and Van Dijk. He is fast, a great marker, he can pass and play out from the back, he reads the game well. He is going to establish himself with Zidane,” Stanger said.
The comparison comes after Jacquet's first weeks as a Liverpool player have already brought senior international recognition. The 21-year-old was included in Zinedine Zidane's first France squad for the Nations League, having been rewarded for his adaptation to the Premier League.
Jacquet had spent his formative years at Rennes before making his senior debut against Nice in January 2024. A loan spell with Clermont Foot followed, giving him 24 appearances during his time with the club.
He returned to Rennes for the second half of the 2024-25 season and became increasingly important to the first team. During the opening half of the following campaign, he started every Ligue 1 match for Rennes and played 1,853 of a possible 1,980 minutes before a shoulder injury ended his season.
Liverpool nevertheless completed the agreement in advance, with Jacquet joining the club officially at the start of July.
His immediate adaptation has been significant. Jacquet started Liverpool's first five Premier League matches of the season and also played in the Champions League victory over Atlético Madrid, while his performances helped him earn his first France call-up.
Stanger's assessment therefore arrives at a point when Jacquet's progress is already moving beyond the expectations attached to a young defender arriving from Ligue 1.
For a player once held back by injuries linked to his growth, the trajectory has changed quickly — from Rennes prospect to Liverpool starter and now France international under a coach who knows exactly what elite-level defenders require.