Désiré Doué, the 21-year-old Paris Saint-Germain forward, has impressed Aldo Serena with his ability to keep his teammates within his field of vision. Speaking to L’Équipe, the former Juventus striker—now a pundit for Sky Italia—also highlights a key requirement: backing up his talent with solid statistics if he aspires to win the Ballon d’Or.
Serena: “You also need solid statistics”
“He always keeps an eye on his teammates’ movements, even while moving at speed with the ball. He is also becoming effective in front of goal, which is essential if he has his sights set on the Ballon d’Or. Technical flair and creating chances for others aren’t enough; you also need solid statistics.”
Accelerating without losing sight of others
Serena points to a valuable trait: maintaining a collective perspective even when dribbling at speed and with precision. For Paris, this is a tangible asset. A player who draws a defender toward him must be able to capitalize on the resulting space—whether by delivering a pass or taking a shot. In this way, beating an opponent gains its true value: it creates an opening for the team.
The Ballon d’Or as a horizon, not an obligation
The former striker’s caveat concerns output. He believes that creative play must be supported by hard numbers to contend for such an award. This does not mean that Doué has made winning it his stated goal, nor does it imply that he must now look to finish every attacking sequence himself. Rather, the challenge lies in increasing his efficiency without sacrificing the awareness of his teammates that Serena so admires. For PSG, any additional goals would be all the more valuable for the way they would extend his existing contribution to the collective effort.
