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Journalist
Hungry for sport, he grew up to the sound of Formula 1 engines and the exploits of Ronaldinho. Today, with a Master's degree in sports journalism, he no longer misses an F1 Grand Prix or a PSG match, his two passions and specialties.
Sports director of PSG between 2011 and 2013 then from 2019 to 2022, Leonardo returned to his job in the capital, and in particular his recruitment which changed the face of the capital club. He is particularly passionate about the players who arrived at PSG at that time. And there were a lot of them.
Passed under the Qatari flag in 2011, the PSG had entrusted its first transfer markets to Leonardo. Appointed sporting director, the Brazilian was the first architect of the new PSG Qatari version. And he quickly formed a squad capable of performing on the European scene. Forced to leave the club in 2013 before returning between 2019 and 2022, Leonardo looks back with emotion on his work in the capital.
“The emotion was enormous”
« How else would this be possible? I remember all the moments. You know, when Paris comes to get me, I am a coach at Inter Milan, I have to build the future and they call me to tell me that the Paris club will be bought, that the revolution will be enormous, with the desire to shine in C1. I arrived in Paris on July 14, the same when I was a player. The championship started on August 6 and we recruited 9-10 players in 20 days. It was “poof poof poof” (he is demonstrative with his hands), the emotion was enormous. Tremendous », he confides in the columns of Figaro before detailing these famous transfer windows.
“It was wonderful”
« Matuidi, Menez, Sirigu, Sissoko, Lugano, Pastore… After in January, Thiago Motta, Maxwell, Alex. The following season: Verratti, Zlatan, Thiago Silva, Lavezzi, Lucas Moura, David Beckham… It was wonderful. We come out of the Champions League against the great Barcelona of Messi without losing this season. The second passage also remains fabulous for me. We're making a Champions League final, the only one so far. But beyond all that, my story with Paris is untouchable. And I'm not saying that to open the door to I don't know what. It's my heart that speaks », added Leonardo.
