Bradley Barcola, 22-year-old winger for Paris Saint-Germain and the French team, spoke in a long interview for The Parisian. He returned to his new notoriety, even more noticeable since his arrival in the French team. This allowed him to address the importance of his family in order to keep his feet on the ground. He admits he wants to stay the same, without frills.
First of all, I don't have a lot of friends. I have very few. So when they tell me “you’re doing anything”, it’s because they’re right. And when they tell me that I played well, it’s because it’s true. I don't listen to what is said outside. To tell you the truth, they are the ones who send me the things that we can read in the press. Sometimes we laugh about it, but it doesn't go any further.
It seems that you easily talk to your loved ones when something is bothering you…
With my parents, we tell each other everything. As soon as something goes wrong, on or off the field, we talk about it. I have my big brother, too. We call each other, I'm trying to go to Lyon to see the family. In these moments, we sit down, we discuss. When things aren't going well, I need to see them, get advice from them.
Barcola « When I go out into the street, he will tell me not to wear this or that outfit.”
Are you able to talk to them about everything that has happened to you over the past year?
Not so much. It's not even my father who talks to me about it anymore. When I go out into the street, he will tell me not to wear this or that outfit. Where he tires me is on cars (he laughs). He talks to me a lot about appearance, clothes. He is sober. He tells me to be careful. But he's right, I try to listen to him. »
We know that being recognized in the media, especially in the world of football, can bring its share of unpleasantness. We must not change, take ourselves for someone else and even less start living for the image more than for what we can bring to the field.
Family is important for players, it is the link between before and after, especially when a phenomenon of starification occurs. You have to know how to keep your feet on the ground to stay focused on work. You shouldn't see yourself arriving too quickly, the road is long and only consistency at the highest level grants the right to speak of a great career.
To say that life has not changed would be complicated for Barcola who nevertheless went from youngster in Lyon to indisputable starter at PSG and player of the French team in less than two years. But if the perception from the outside has evolved, Barcola seems to be a boy who continues to want a normal life.
Obviously, he has to adapt, because everything has changed for him, but by not being overzealous, he remains this accessible and approachable player, despite his constantly evolving status. He is a healthy boy who has always advocated the importance of his family meeting up and discussing. He has a great future, especially because we feel that he is not going to get lost along the way.
