Future majority shareholder of Paris FC via the family holding company, Antoine Arnault nipped in the bud the idea of any rivalry with Paris Saint-Germain. The son of the richest man in France recalled his love of the Ile-de-France giant and will continue to support the club of his friend Nasser Al-Khelaïfi in Ligue 1. “Except twice a year”.
No question of declaring war on PSG. On the verge of becoming the new owner of Paris FC via the Agache holding company, the Arnault family does not want to alienate its neighbor. Questioned this Wednesday by RMC Sport, Antoine Arnault was very clear on the subject: PSG is a friendly club of the PFC. Above all, PSG is a club dear to his heart since childhood.
“So, let things be clear: I have been a PSG supporter since I was 12 years old. I was a subscriber for many years and today I am very kindly invited by Nasser (Al-Khelaïfi) whom I know well and who is a friend”, greeted Bernard Arnault's son during an interview with RMC Sport. “I have enormous admiration and respect for what he has built with his shareholder.”
>> Relive Antoine Arnault's first words at the PFC
Antoine Arnault refuses a “fictitious rivalry” in Paris
Not without recalling his excellent human relations with the president of PSG, Antoine Arnault also insisted on the hard work carried out since 2011 and the takeover of the Ligue 1 club by Qatar.
“PSG is a great club that I admire,” continued the French businessman and future boss of the PFC. “And I will not have the immodesty to compare myself or to try to create a kind of artificial rivalry between our club today or the future club that will be Paris FC and the current PSG.”
Jérôme Rothen delighted with the arrival of the Arnault family at Paris FC!
“Room for two clubs in Paris”
Leader of Ligue 2 after thirteen days, Paris FC still plays at Charléty but could change stadium in the event of promotion to Ligue 1 and is thinking of Jean-Bouin. In recent weeks, Pierre Ferracci had even opened the door to sharing the Parc des Princes with PSG. If nothing is done in this matter, Antoine Arnault sees the PFC coexisting without problem with the Parisian ogre.
“I think there is room for two clubs in Paris, I think there is room to build two different stories, perhaps complementary,” added the leader of the LVMH group to RMC Sport. “What we want is to continue in the popular tradition of the Paris FC club, to continue to do things well. And it is not because we do certain things that they are necessarily in opposition to the PSG. I will always be a supporter of PSG while being a shareholder of Paris FC, except, I hope, twice a year or there, I will be more for Paris FC.”
The future strongman of the PFC then reiterated this very clear position during his appearance at a press conference: “You will never hear me say anything negative about PSG. It's a club that I admire, it “It's a club that achieves extraordinary things and I will always keep it in my heart.”
“I do not rule out supporting two clubs in Paris. At least as long as we are in Ligue 2 that is certain and even the day when, I hope, we will be in Ligue 1.”
How the PFC can be inspired by PSG
Ambitious for the PFC, Antoine Arnault does not want to miss any stages. Supported by the Red Bull group to take its first steps in football, the giant of the luxury industry would see itself taking an example from PSG to develop its club.
“I find that its shareholders and Nasser have achieved something absolutely extraordinary over the past dozen years,” the future boss of Paris FC finally judged in front of journalists. “We can clearly see this, moreover, in the valuations of the different rankings, PSG is at the top or in the top 5 of club valuations in Europe.”
Jean-Guy Lebreton with Loïc Briley and Aurélien Tiercin
