His arrival at Paris Saint-Germain
"I joined Paris Saint-Germain's youth academy in 2000 after being spotted at FCM Garges, where I was playing above my age group. I had heard rumours that Paris were interested in me, but I didn't really believe them. Then one day, the club invited me to come and try out at the Camp des Loges, which turned out to be a positive experience. It was a dream come true for a young footballer from the Paris region like me. At the time, we all looked up to Nicolas Anelka because he was, in a way, the symbol of the youth academy's success. So I was part of the first generation of Titis who joined the Conflans facility for two years, then the Verneuil facility for a year."
Awakening
"My mother was relieved when I left for Paris because she knew I would be developing my skills in a good environment. This meant she could take care of our family, especially my sister, who was ill. As I was a year ahead at school, she found it easier to accept our separation. I didn't hesitate for a second to try this adventure, even though the first few weeks weren't easy because I had to give up certain habits. The environment was very strict, with rigour taking precedence both on and off the pitch. We all broke down at some point, crying while calling our loved ones on the phone, but I had only one goal: to perform at all costs! I quickly identified my weaknesses so that I could work on them over time, keep up with the pace set by the staff, and reach the level of my new teammates, such as Steven Nzonzi, Granddi Ngoyi, Yannick Boli, Jonathan Famery, and Alliou Dembélé."
Early dreams
"In our first year, we took part in a tournament in Tenerife, where we played against FC Barcelona and Inter Milan, among others. It was the first time any of us had travelled so far from our families by plane. I remember staying in a magnificent hotel with lots of sunshine! The competition was broadcast on a well-known private channel in France, giving us the opportunity to watch our matches on television. It was crazy! There were lots of photographers and journalists on the sidelines, which made us feel like little pros before our time and had us dreaming even bigger..."
Youth academy
"When I arrived at the youth academy, I was promoted to the group born in 1987. It was a generation of players with strong personalities, and I didn't really manage to assert myself either technically or mentally. There was a great atmosphere, but looking back, I definitely wasn't ready for such a challenge. I was often paired with Larrys Mabiala in defence, but the younger players, such as Mamadou Sakho, were pushing hard behind us! During my final season at the club, I was part of the team that won the French U18 championship in 2006, but I didn't take part in the final phase. I failed to seize the opportunities that came my way to earn the coach's trust in the final stretch. In a way, it was a blessing in disguise because I learned from my mistakes before joining Stade Lavallois, where I made my senior debut."
Assessment of his learning experience
"I had a fantastic six years with Les Rouge et Bleu. I drew inspiration from everyone during my training, but I always made sure to retain my own identity. I worked hard while learning to manage the pressure. To move forward, I found the right balance and was able to improve with each passing season. I have no regrets; on the contrary, Paris taught me how to handle defeat and then get back up on my feet again. Almost twenty years later, I am still just as proud to have been trained there! Seeing the professional team recently become European champions moved me deeply; I still can't believe it. This victory brought back all the good times I had with my friends back then, when we used to cheer on the team in front of the television. It's incredible what they've achieved, but they did it, and in style!"
Career change
"After playing in Ligue 2 and then in Turkey, I joined FC Fleury 91 in 2019. I'm still with the club and this summer I'll be taking on the role of assistant coach for the U16 R1 team, in order to complete my BEF training. At the same time, I will continue to play with the reserve team in R1, under the guidance of former Titi Mourad Jalliti. As long as I have my health and my passion for football, I won't give up! I have also completed my STAPS licence to become a physical trainer. I love to keep busy!"
Date of birth: 20 March 1988
Place of birth: Paris, 19th arrondissement
Position: Defender
Clubs: FCM Garges (1997 to 2000), Paris Saint-Germain (2000 to 2006), Stade Lavallois (2006 to 2009), SR Saint-Dié (2009 to 2010), US Raon-L'Etape (2010 to 2013), AS Lyon-Duchère (2013 to 2014), AS Moulins (2014 to 2015), US Quevilly-Rouen (2015 to 2018), Giresunspor Kulübü (2018 to 2019), FC Fleury 91 (since 2019)
Honours with Paris Saint-Germain youth teams: French U18 champion (2006)
Martinique national team: A (seven caps)