INTERVIEW
25 years ago, when he played in the 1st Division, Yuri Djorkaeff never thought that a match between two teams of the championship of France could take place in China. This will be the case, for the second time in history, on Saturday, in Shenzhen, on the occasion of the Champions Trophy between Rennes and Paris Saint-Germain. In Asia, the club of the capital arouses a rare craze, under the impulse of its stars. Neymar, first, but also and especially Kylian Mbappé, unleashing the passions at each appearance. This phenomenon, "it is also what characterizes the big clubs", underlines the "Snake", on Europe 1.
"If Neymar left now, we would stay on a frustration"
A week ago, the young striker has crystallized all the attention during the presentation of the new jersey PSG, along with Marco Verratti. But Yuri Djorkaeff is not surprised. Better than anyone, he knows: "As soon as you are world champion, you take on an incredible dimension. (...) And he is available, I think that's what people like."
If the star of the stars remains nevertheless Neymar, the Brazilian does not hide his desire to leave. "It would be a shame," commented the club's ambassador. "We would stay on a frustration if he left now, because he is a player with so much talent, who could bring this club in another dimension ... Everyone is waiting for Neymar to have the scale of (Lionel) Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, but for the moment he has not yet had it with Paris Saint-Germain, although Paris Saint-Germain gave him all the keys to have it, "analyzes Yuri Djorkaeff. "If it stays, there will be a big challenge for him, but also for the club, and it could be very interesting."
"There are ten or twelve clubs that are even stronger"
Two years after his arrival, the champions of France have still not reached the desired level in Europe. But "the goal is not just win the Champions League," insists the former midfielder, who has never won it himself. "Today, there are ten or twelve clubs that are even stronger, better organized than the PSG to win.The PSG project is to build something, and in two, three years, to be strong enough to say 'now, now we are in the Top 5, and with this team, we may win the Champions League' ".