Five-time Olympic judo champion Teddy Riner spoke to Bartoli Time on RMC Sport on Sunday. He took the opportunity to answer the thorny question of whether Paris Saint-Germain should leave the Parc des Princes in the next few years. The PSG judoka defended the move, even if he understands the attachment to the Porte de Saint-Cloud stadium.
Riner “economically speaking it’s not good for a club.”
“There are two things. I’m a sportsman and an entrepreneur. At some point, a great club is also a club that has its own stadium and doesn’t rent ad vitam æternam with funds that are lost.
Yes, it’s good for Paris City Hall, but economically speaking it’s not good for a club. Look at Bayern Munich, which has its own infrastructure and high-level center. Things are going well. I think that’s how investors think.
Riner “positions himself as those who are trying to win, those who are trying to keep a club going.”
But yes, the soul and history of the club is at the Parc des Princes. I understand that, of course. After that, you also have to position yourself as someone who’s trying to win, someone who’s trying to keep a club going. It must be complicated. I’ve got mixed feelings, it’s the ball in the center, but I can understand.”
While Riner logically recalls the historic importance of the Parc des Princes, which can never be set aside, he quite rightly stresses that the departure is the logical next step for PSG. In his project, there are excellent reasons for owning the stadium. But the town council is categorically refusing, even though there are complicated works to be carried out in order to take the stadium to the next level.
We have to accept this and prepare ourselves. The idea of change isn’t necessarily pleasant, but that doesn’t take away from the very probable need. Other clubs have changed stadiums and are living very well today, with new emotions and new stories to tell.
It remains to be seen where that will be and when.
