Ousmane Diomande, the 22-year-old central defender for Sporting Lisbon (contract until 2027) and Ivory Coast, is among the players linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain during the transfer window. This rumor was commented on by Arthur Boka, a former Ivory Coast international who played for Strasbourg and Stuttgart, among others, in an interview with Africafoot. He was clear about the choice his compatriot must make.
“PSG is a stepping stone, but the competition is fierce in defense.”
“He has the ability to play in the most demanding leagues in Europe, but the choice of club must be carefully considered so as not to hinder his development. He needs to continue playing regularly, remain in a competitive environment, while being challenged by his teammates.”
PSG is a stepping stone, but the competition is fierce in defense. For Diomandé, it’s a risky gamble if consistent playing time isn’t guaranteed. He could gain recognition, but lose playing time, which is essential for his development and his place in the national team. (…) Diomandé needs to choose a club where he’ll be challenged, but above all, where he’ll play.
This position is understandable, even if it’s certainly not pleasant for Parisian fans who would like to see this young talent join PSG. The point of view at least makes sense: Diomandé might want to seek more playing time elsewhere. However, it’s also worth noting that this isn’t a guarantee of success. And signing with PSG could also lead to great things.
This is similar to what we’ve seen with other players: numerous young talents developed at the club who are getting playing time (Warren Zaïre-Emery, Senny Mayulu, Ibrahim Mbaye) and places in the national team (Zaïre-Emery and Mbaye again, but also Désiré Doué, Bradley Barcola, etc.). There are some excellent examples of success. There’s healthy competition, plenty of matches, and a sense of confidence. And real progress, both collectively and individually.
It’s far from an easy choice; there are advantages as well as disadvantages. It also depends on discussions with the coaching staff, the player’s self-confidence, their mentality, their abilities, and so on. Everyone can have a preference from the outside, but we never have all the information. However, it’s worth noting that there are examples showing that signing for PSG is far from necessarily slowing down a career. But some struggle more, like Lucas Beraldo (a 22-year-old defender).
