Mamadou Sakho (ex-PSG): What trace did the Montpellier defender leave in Paris?

In seven seasons, what trace has left the former titi Parisien within the tenfold champion of France? According to his ex-teammate Tripy Makonda, who accompanied him from pre-training, the Montpellier “is part“of the best defenders in the history of PSG.”During the reception of Montpellier last year, he did not play but the Parisian supporters chanted his name, reminds us of the ex-PSG left-back. In Paris, he was always present on the ground and never let go. He is the player who best represented Paris Saint-Germain in terms of identity and belonging to Ile-de-France. His Parisian roots, inevitably that increases his love for the club tenfold.”

Anthony Vivien, Parisian supporter and president of the association “Les Titis du PSG”, totally shares this opinion. “When we think of Mamad’, we only see beauty, goodness and a warrior who has always wet his jerseyhe hammers. He has always behaved with dignity whether in training or as a professional player. He also always returned the trust the club placed in him. He never put himself above the institution.”

There is no doubt that the Parisian fans will give him a welcome worthy of the greatest in the history of the club on Saturday. “It will be of the same ilk as when Zlatan (Ibrahimovic) exited the field in 2016 or when Angel (Of Maria) left recentlybelieves Anthony Vivien. We all remember Mamad’s tears during his farewell to the Parc des Princes in 2013. We all cried with him. Just talking about it gives me goosebumps. I can’t wait until Saturday to see him back on the pitch. I imagine he’s counting the days and the hourssince a long time.”

As soon as he arrived at the age of 11, Mamadou Sakho traced his destiny and caught the eye of Parisian decision-makers. “I met him during the international under-15 tournaments at Camp des Loges. I had said to him: ‘Mamadou, if you are serious, I am sure that you will become international one day’, tells us Alain Cayzac, president of PSG between 2006 and 2008. Moreover in 2013, the day after his double against Ukraine (3-0), he reminded Stade 2 that I had predicted an international future for him.. It was very elegant of her. Mamadou has a golden mentality.”

On February 14, 2007, the native of Paris played his first professional match in Athens in the European Cup the day after his seventeenth birthday. Then in October of the same year, Paul Le Guen appointed him captain during a trip to Valenciennes, while the club vegetated at the bottom of the L1 table. “When he signed his first professional contract, he was natural, very respectful and sure of himself. We could already feel the leader dawningrecalls Alain Cayzac. Before this match at Nungesser, I remember having a discussion with the most capped players in the locker room who had expressed their astonishment. Me, I did not have to question the choice of the trainer. But whether it was 17 or later, he was born to be captain.”

“Mamadou broke through and lasted at Paris Saint-Germain because he was impervious to criticism and the environmentadds Tripy Makonda. The pressure, he did not undergo it. He was in his project to win at PSG and to continue. His career plan was already mapped out. In Valenciennes, I have never seen someone as serene as him. He even told me: ‘it’s natural for me‘”.

“The role that Presnel Kimpembe has with young people today reminds me of the way Mamadou surrounded the (neeskens) Kebano(Jean-Christophe) Bahebeck or (Loick) landrenote Tripy Makonda. He explained to them the codes of the Parisian locker room and the training sessions so that they push their limits. Presnel, I asked him the question after PSG-Metz last May. He said that the elders had helped him and that he also wanted to transmit to the young people. For him, it’s fun to be the big brother. We saw it when Warren Zaire-Emery returned against Clermont on Saturday, Presnel said encouraging words to him in the locker room.”

On the lawn of the Parc des Princes on Saturday, three generations of Titis will meet (Sakho, Kimpembe and Zaire-Emery). But contrary to custom, an opponent of PSG will be particularly highlighted. A player whose tears of 2013 are still in everyone’s memory (“There were coaching choices and players who may have had unfair words towards him, which may have pushed him to leave for Liverpool“, dixit Tripy Makonda).

Even if the 32-year-old player has chained injuries in recent seasons, Parisian supporters would not be against seeing Mamadou Sakho again one day for the PSG jersey. “I’m sure he wouldn’t do worse than some players, who came in tourist mode, to integrate the rotation in defenseloose Anthony Vivien. The few times he played, he would get high for the clubThe PSG attackers have been warned: Mamadou Sakho is back in his favorite garden.