Trained at Paris Saint-Germain, 28-year-old RC Lens striker Odsonne Édouard told Le Parisien of his enduring attachment to the Parisian club. The former youth player admits to being disappointed at not having been able to establish himself in the first team, but above all, he cherishes his gratitude and pride towards the Parisian academy.
Édouard: “It was all of our dreams to be able to play at the Parc des Princes”
“It was all of our dreams to be able to play at the Parc des Princes. Seeing young players now making their mark in the squad makes me incredibly happy as a former youth player. I hope others will follow and continue to bring glory to the Parisian academy.”
Do I regret not having played with PSG’s first team? No regrets, but disappointment. I am very grateful to PSG. It’s my formative club, to whom I owe a great deal. Because if I’m where I am today, it’s thanks to them. I had my first professional experiences, my first professional teams, my first trophies with PSG…
Edouard: “There were monsters in attack (Zlatan, Cavani)”
It’s a shame I didn’t have the opportunity to express myself with the first team, but there were monsters in attack (Zlatan, Cavani)… I learned a lot and improved a lot during training. “It helped me in my professional career.”
In his eyes, there’s no settling of scores, rather a nuanced understanding of a missed dream and an accepted legacy. Odsonne Édouard would obviously have liked to experience the Parc des Princes as something other than an unattainable goal, but he places his time at Paris Saint-Germain within a broader context.
The club offered him his first experiences at the highest level, a demanding environment, and a formative framework that supported him throughout his career. His words also reflect the current situation: seeing young players from the club achieve a real place in the Parisian squad represents a form of collective pride for him. Beyond the slight personal disappointment, there’s above all the idea that PSG’s youth academy continues to exist, to matter, and to inspire.
