Millions of people envy them. They are only ten years old and yet millions of people would like to be in their place for a moment, just a stone’s throw from the shadow of Mbappé or Marquinhos.
More than 600 children from throughout the Paris region had the privilege of setting foot on the lawns of the PSG training center this Sunday during an amateur tournament sponsored by the capital club.
You have to have endured the security protocols of the Campus, inaccessible in normal times, to measure the luck of these budding athletes. “There was a lot of paperwork and authorization to fill out. But being here today is a privilege that I appreciate,” confides Nassira, coach of the Poissy women’s team, one of the 24 teams selected from 200 applications. And within the clubs, too, we had to select: “It wasn’t an easy time because we kept 12 players out of 26. We chose them mainly on behavioral criteria. »
At her side, Maelyss, who also coaches the women’s team, savors the moment… as a supporter of the Barça stars. “Obviously it does something when you love PSG. I am even happier that few people can come here. And then, the campus is no longer in Saint-Germain-en-Laye but at home, in our city. There is a feeling of pride. »
A 74-hectare Fort Knox
On the synthetic lawns, “their” girls, aged 10, try to qualify for the semi-final. High up, planted in the middle of the 74 hectares of the site, the mineral building with the PSG logo, with a surface area of more than one hectare, dominates the grounds. And a little higher, still, hidden from view, it is the holy grail of every fan of the club: the training pitches of the pros, the elite of the club, carried by its stars qualified in the semi-finals of the League of champions.
“It’s a great opportunity to be here this afternoon, I realize,” says Luna, a young resident of Verneuil-sur-Seine. In the morning, other lucky people had the chance to approach Nuno Mendes, the Portuguese international defender who came to stop by and take a few photos with the children.
This is the first time that the Campus has opened its doors to the general public. Emerged from the ground last summer, this football temple guarded like Fort Knox, replaced the Loges camp in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, with much more modest dimensions and equipment. “It’s a first but it’s normal: we’re finally home! And we now have enough space to accommodate all these people,” confides Maxime Agostini, PSG brand manager for the club.