Eric-Junior Dina-Ebimbe, the 25-year-old midfielder on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt to Brest, looks back fondly on his time at Paris Saint-Germain, where he was developed before his transfer to the German club. In an interview with Foot Mercato, the former PSG youth player expressed a clear regret: not having played within the collective framework now established by Luis Enrique.
Dina Ebimbe: “We can’t know how my career would have turned out with him.”
“He built a team with names that weren’t necessarily big names at the start, and he trusts young players. So what better way to develop a player than to have a coach like that? We can’t know how my career would have turned out with him. He develops young players, helps them mature, and gets the best out of them.”
Dina Ebimbe: “We were surrounded by stars, with all the problems that came with it.”
“Just look at Vitinha, who was criticized and who became the best midfielder in the world. I’m not saying that Xavi (Simons) and I were at Vitinha’s level, but if we had been better supported… We don’t know. We were surrounded by stars, with all the problems that arose. We were 19 or 20 years old; it’s difficult to make a name for yourself.”
The sentiment expressed by Eric-Junior Dina-Ebimbe goes beyond simple personal regret. It primarily reflects the contrast between two eras at PSG. During his time in Paris, the midfielder had to try to make his mark in an environment dominated by stars, established status, and pressure that was hardly conducive to developing young players.
Today, under Luis Enrique, Paris Saint-Germain seems to have reversed the logic: the collective takes precedence over individual glory, individual development is framed within a specific context, and young players are no longer simply thrown into the deep end, they are supported. This is precisely what Dina-Ebimbe seems to applaud. Through his eyes, the Spanish coach’s method appears as a crucial lever: giving time, structuring roles, and allowing talent to grow without being overwhelmed by the pressure.
