Presnel Kimpembe (29), former Paris Saint-Germain defender, spoke to Foot Mercato about the rise of young players from the club’s academy. The Qatari club player said he was proud to see Senny Mayulu (19), Ibrahim Mbaye (17), Quentin Ndjantou (18), and Mathis Jangeal (18) gradually integrating into the first team under Luis Enrique.
Kimpembe: “They’re young players who are very receptive.”
Luis Enrique is increasingly giving opportunities to PSG’s youth academy players. After Senny Mayulu and Ibrahim Mbaye, it’s now Quentin Ndjantou and Mathis Jangeal’s turn to make appearances with the first team. This must be gratifying for you as a former mentor to these young players?
That’s already a good start; it means Luis Campos actually listens to me a little when I whisper a couple of names in his ear. I’m very proud for the club and also for them personally because they’re good guys and good young players. They’re young guys who listen, and these days, talent alone isn’t enough to succeed and take the next step.
You have to be smart, you have to listen, you have to think, you have to be well-rounded, above all. You also have to be well-supported, keep working, and never give up. That’s what these young players are doing today. I know Senny (Mayulu), Ibé (Mbaye), and Warren (Zaïre-Emery) a bit better than Quentin (Ndjantou) or Mathis (Jangeal), for example.
Kimpembe: “I still talk to them, I had that big brother role.”
Despite your move to Qatar, are you still in contact with them?
I still talk to them. I had that big brother role, and you could say I was a bit of a role model, because I’ve been there, I know how it works, and I always advised them to be careful: what you can do, what you can’t do, do this, do that. I’ve always had that role with them, both on and off the pitch. For example, sometimes they might call me if it has nothing to do with football, to ask for advice or just chat.
I know it helps them sometimes. Personally, that’s what I like about it too. Having a different role and being there for the youth academy or the youth teams is what has always been important to me. I’ve grown, I’ve learned. I didn’t necessarily have someone with me back then. I know that for them, it can only be a plus.”
For Presnel Kimpembe, the work of Luis Enrique and Luis Campos is starting to bear fruit: the door is finally opening for the academy’s youngsters. The 2018 World Cup winner welcomes this new policy, while humorously mentioning that he himself had suggested “a couple of names” to the sporting advisor. Above all, he emphasizes the values necessary to succeed in Paris: listening, maturity, and perseverance.
The former captain, who came up through the ranks at Camp des Loges, now sees himself as a big brother to the new generations, always ready to advise Senny Mayulu or Ibrahim Mbaye on life as a footballer, as well as on life in general. It’s a way for him to extend his history with PSG, passing on the club spirit to those who dream of following in his footsteps.
