A short walk from the centre of Montpellier lies the neighbourhood of Figuerolles. It is dusty, a little frayed around the edges and less than affluent, with plain buildings, narrow streets and a bad reputation. It is also where the Savanier family calls home. Most footballers would extricate themselves from Figuerolles after enjoying a dramatic rise in fortunes. But Téji Savanier, Nîmes’ midfield general and arguably Ligue 1’s player of the season, comes home from training every evening to his wife, children, parents and siblings in Figuerolles. For now, at least.

“Our tradition is to stay together,” Savanier told L’Équipe last year, “It would make me sick to leave the neighbourhood, but life is difficult there. I play for my family and, if I have to shelter everyone or get them out of there, I’ll do it.”

After starting his career with Nîmes’ fierce rivals, Montpellier HSC, Savanier signed for Arles-Avignon in 2011. The midfielder only rented a flat in Avignon because his mother agreed to come too. After establishing himself as a Ligue 2 regular, firstly with Arles before he joined Nîmes in 2015, Savanier enjoyed a breakthrough campaign last season when Nîmes were promoted to Ligue 1 for the first time since 1993.

The step up in quality this season has not troubled him. In fact, he has spent the season dictating games effortlessly. Only Kylian Mbappé, Marquinhos and Marco Verratti have higher average game ratings from L’Équipe this season. His uncharacteristically wayward display in a 5-0 defeat at Lille has been his only even remotely subpar performance all year, the scoreline underlining how important an in-form Savanier is to Nîmes.

Although he is often the deepest midfielder in Bernard Blaquart’s gung-ho Nîmes team, Savanier has 12 assists – more than any other player in the league. He has a thunderous shot and takes a mean free-kick, but his real influence comes from the way he combines flawless technical ability, vision and proactive passing from deep paired with a ferocious, all-action style. Intimidated by no one, Savanier is a true leader and a furious competitor. He is even desperate to win against his children. “I want to play all the time and beat them,’” he says. “I do not like losing, even against them.”

A look at Nîmes’ transfer dealings last summer underlines how important Savanier has been this season. After finishing second in Ligue 2, the club signed just one outfield player: winger Denis Bouanga from second-tier Lorient. As a result, Nîmes went into the campaign looking like a Ligue 2 team – and one with a few gaps.

Club captain Anthony Briançon has needed a centre-back partner all season and the team still need a reliable striker. Umut Bozok and Rachid Alioui scored 41 goals between them in Ligue 2 last season but neither has adapted well to the top flight. Bouanga is their top scorer with seven goals – just one more than Savanier. As well as dominating games and changing them with his goals and assists, Savanier has provided fans with a few memorable moments. His astounding 50-yard lob against Dijon back in February and typically nonchalant Panenka against Bordeaux last month are near the top of the list.

Savanier’s superb start in Ligue 1 hit a bump in the road in September, when PSG visited Stade des Costieres and the midfielder found himself in an altercation with Kylian Mbappé. In the 94th minute, Mbappé set off on a counterattack and was tripped by Savanier. The Nîmes player expected expected little more than the standard yellow card but Mbappé reacted furiously, shoving Savanier to the turf and earning himself a red card. When asked about his furious reaction after the game, Mbappé said he “would do it again”.

Savanier, though, was baffled. “For me, it wasn’t malicious. I wasn’t trying to injure him or break his leg. I was surprised when he reacted like that. If he continues like this, he’s going to see a lot of red cards this season.” The authorities did not take kindly to Savanier’s tackle or his words and, unfathomably, he was given a five-match ban.

Savanier’s attitude and influence are perhaps best encapsulated by the way he came back from that incident. He returned with an untameable desire to prove himself. Having gone without a win for seven games, Nîmes won four of their next seven with Savanier in the team and jumped from a point above the bottom three into the top half. Other sides would have tailed off once safety was secured, but Nîmes have kept going. Their recent form has catapulted them into eight place, above Reims and cup winners Rennes and Strasbourg.

Many an attractive offer will be forthcoming for a genuine player of the season contender – Nicolas Pépé is perhaps his only genuine challenger – but Savanier may be reluctant to leave Figuerolles. “I always said the ideal situation would be to go up with Nîmes,” said Savanier in April. “I’m fine here, half an hour from home.” He also says his mother still cooks for him because he “can’t cook anything, not even pasta,” and that McDonalds is a post-match treat. “Going home, for me, is the most beautiful thing that exists. Football comes after family.” Nevertheless, he is only 27 and is reportedly available for as little as €10m. His mum better start packing.

Ligue 1 talking points

Lille players celebrate after their 1-0 win over Bordeaux. Photograph: Sylvain Lefevre/Getty Images

• It had been coming for some time, but Lille’s 1-0 win over Bordeaux on Sunday confirmed that they will finish in second place, barring a 15-goal swing. For a side left reeling by the sales of several key players and the acrimonious departure of Marcelo Bielsa, the Champions League was a nigh-on-unfathomable goal. However, it’s testament to the brilliance of Christophe Galtier and some canny signings in the form of José Fonte and Zeki Celik. They have been the best team in France in the calendar year and could even pose a threat to PSG next season if they are not torn apart in the summer transfer window.

• Lyon also took a giant step towards the Champions League on Sunday, winning 3-0 at Marseille to eliminate the hosts from European contention. Marseille had been brighter in the second half of the season, largely by placing trust in younger players, but in a pivotal match Rudi Garcia again called upon some of his less experienced players, leaving out Dimitri Payet and Florian Thauvin in the process. Unsurprisingly, Marseille failed to score and their stodgy midfield was largely to blame, inciting the ire of the Vélodrome. Tear gas was used to dissuade fans from invading the pitch at full-time.

• Guingamp have been relegated to Ligue 2. They lost to local rivals Rennes in heart-breaking fashion after Tomas Koubek saved a stoppage-time penalty from Marcus Thuram. The club’s biggest summer signings, Ronny Rodelin and Nolan Roux, have combined for two goals and no assists in 41 appearances combined. Some of this poor form has been due to injuries, but their relegation is down to more than just bad luck, as other transfer signings have failed to pan out even when fit. Perhaps other clubs will learn a lesson from their failure: dig deeper in international scouting and do not just rely on middling domestic players.

Ligue 1 results

Quick Guide Ligue 1 results Show St Étienne 0-1 Montpellier

Angers 1-2 PSG

Amiens 0-0 Toulouse

Caen 3-2 Reims

Dijon 2-1 Strasbourg

Nice 1-1 Nantes

Nîmes 1-0 Monaco

Rennes 1-1 Guingamp

Lille 1-0 Bordeaux

Marseille 0-3 Lyon

Ligue 1 table