Presnel Kimpembe, the 30-year-old defender who recently left Paris Saint-Germain to sign with Qatar Sports Club, spoke at length to the Clique program on Canal+. The 2018 World Cup champion talked about his personality, his career path, and his departure a few days ago, which was necessary, even if it wasn’t pleasant.
Kimpembe: “Respect is fundamental. Humility is too.”
Presnel, you’re a player who represents the people… what does that mean?
It means a lot of things. It means that I’m a local kid, someone from the suburbs who grew up in the neighborhoods of Paris. I represent the Paris football scene, all the young players who aspire to become professional at PSG.
Why such an unusual first name?
It’s not common; it was my grandfather’s name. My mother chose it after him, to keep his memory alive. It doesn’t have a particular meaning. Some people have trouble pronouncing it (laughs).
Kimpembe: “It forges a strong mentality and character.”
What values did you inherit?
Respect is fundamental. Humility is too. The values of living together, especially when you come from the neighborhoods, when you grow up with others. It forges a strong mentality and character. I was lucky to grow up in that environment, and I’m very, very proud of it.
Is loyalty your defining characteristic?
That’s true. I spent my entire career here; I grew up here. I gave everything I could to the people of Paris.
Kimpembe: “I knew this injury would happen one day, but I didn’t know when.”
Winning comes at a price, you paid for it?
Double the price (smile). It was a very difficult period in my life. Honestly, I knew this injury would happen one day, but I didn’t know when.
Did you sense it coming?
Before the 2022 World Cup, I was called up and I already had some pain. I was doing everything I could to treat it, strengthening my calf muscles to prevent the injury. But I decided not to go, because my health wasn’t optimal. I wouldn’t have been able to help the team 100%. I was weakened.
How do you know when you’re not at your best?
No athlete wakes up without any pain. We go to training, that’s our job. People think there’s no pain. But when we wake up, we all say we have aches and pains. Kimpembe: “In the morning, I couldn’t walk.”
Just muscle soreness?
No, in the morning I couldn’t walk, I was limping. It took some time to warm up in the morning. There’s also a big warm-up with training. It was a difficult period, I suffered a lot before it happened.
Who can you talk to during these times?
To many people, it helps to talk, it relieves the pressure. We’re lucky to have staff, psychologists, friends, teammates become friends or brothers.
Kimpembe: “It was tough. I started to realize it since Sunday.”
How was the decision made to go to Qatar?
Everything happened quickly, I talked with the club about my situation, about how we could move forward while remaining amicable. I knew there wouldn’t be any conflict with Paris. Everything is fine. There has never been a problem. I simply want to play. I talked with the management, the president, and especially the coach.
I explained to them that I couldn’t continue like this for a third year. That it would be very difficult. They agreed with me. They want to see me play. We all agreed that I should go. It was tough. I started to really realize it since Sunday.
Kimpembe: “The most important thing is to play football again.”
Is Qatar seen as a golden retirement opportunity?
I simply want to play football again. I’ve been dealing with injuries for two and a half years, almost three years now. I’ve suffered a lot. I’ve been helping out from the sidelines, I wasn’t training with the group, I was falling behind. I’ve been training a lot on my own, and that’s painful. When you’re close to a comeback, but then something happens, you have to start all over again. It’s not easy.
Then, I hear some people say it’s all about the money. But I already earn a good living in Paris, and it will be good in Qatar too. The contracts aren’t structured the same way. I’m not going for the money; I already earned a lot, thank God. The most important thing is to play football again. The level isn’t the same, but you shouldn’t underestimate it either.
Who do you want to face there?
Marco Verratti! We’re still very close, we texted each other yesterday. It will be a real pleasure to see him again.
There’s still a good level of football there, right?
Yes, of course. It’s not all about the money. There’s life in Qatar, family. I have a life plan for after football; I’m not thinking only about football. I’m an entrepreneur, and I’m also thinking about how my children will grow up, that they are safe. I want them to have a comfort that I didn’t have.
Kimpembe: “There are many things to be careful about.”
Do you have to be wary of certain things when you’re a professional footballer?
There are many things to be careful about.
How have you managed to avoid getting into trouble?
I’m from Paris; I know everyone (laughs).
Have you seen players whose careers seemed destined to go wrong?
Yes, plenty. You see their entourage, their social life… You can have fun, but there are limits. It’s all about how you behave. If you’re respectful, you won’t have any problems.
Kimpembe: “That was the year I developed the fastest; I was so hungry to succeed. That year was crucial.”
You felt the pressure: it was now or never?
Yes, it was intense. It was my last season in the youth academy, at 14. I remember my 1995 generation was considered the weakest at PSG. It almost didn’t work out for me. When I returned to the academy, I didn’t have a contract. It was all up to me. That was the year I developed the most; I was so hungry to succeed. That year was crucial.
What happens to those who don’t make it?
Some find other paths, different opportunities. Every young player dreams of being a professional, of playing for PSG, Manchester, Barcelona, or Real Madrid. We don’t think about the lower leagues, no disrespect intended.
You don’t have much freedom in football?
No, you have to be careful about everything.
Is that something you’ve learned?
Yes, you can see it in how I’ve matured (smiles).
Kimpembe: “I thought about myself when I was little.”
Your smile at the Parc des Princes on Sunday, was that to avoid breaking down and crying?
Yes, it was emotional (smiles). It was a moment I was looking forward to, of course. I wasn’t alone, my children were there. I thought about myself when I was little. I arrived at 8 years old, my oldest son is 7. I saw everyone who was there for me.
Is there anything stronger than the passion of the fans?
I’m lucky to have a great relationship with the club and the fans. I get along with everyone.
Do you also thank the people we don’t see?
There are so many. I’ve built strong relationships with everyone. Security, cooking, cleaning, gardeners…
Kimpembe: “I’ve realized a lot of things”
How did you manage football with the birth of your premature son?
I went to work every day; I had to be strong. I don’t like to show my problems. You can hide things. It was complicated, it was in the middle of the season, he was born at 5 months. When I saw him, he was the size of my hand! It really affected me. I realized a lot of things, that there’s so much more to life than just football. (…) Seeing them wear the PSG jersey is a great achievement for me.
Do you understand your father better now?
Definitely. Today, we’re lucky to have so many resources available. My parents didn’t have that.
A message for your mother?
We’re very close every day. If I’ve gotten this far, it’s partly thanks to her.
The craziest thing that’s ever happened to you?
I have a little story. I did karate before football. My mother didn’t want me to do boxing. I came home from school, I was very tired, I told her I wasn’t going to karate. I felt so bad. I fell asleep. She woke me up at competition time.
She dressed me, she took me there. I beat everyone, I came first. And then, she said, as always, “That’s my son!” That’s the most beautiful thing. That’s why I cried on Sunday when I saw my mother. It was so powerful. My mother is my strength and also my weakness.
