Hi Yassin, how did you start playing football?
It came by itself… I have always had this passion. Where I lived in Stains, there was always a ball. It was good, you had friends. You’re in a neighborhood, you’re having fun, there are people outside.
And where did you start playing?
In Stains, precisely, where I spent a year. In fact, my family is no longer in Saint-Ouen, and so, at 9 years old, I went to Red Star because of my father. He said it was a better club, but I wanted to stay at Stains. When I was training, I slept at my uncle Ricardo’s house, it was simpler. It avoided taking the metro, because I was still little. These are beautiful memories, it’s a family affair. And at Red Star, the level was good.
You decide to sign for Lens. For what ?
There were several Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 clubs who were interested. I visited the Lens facilities with Marc Westerloppe and I was convinced. He came to the house for coffee, in Stains in 93, I remember that. There was Caen and another club also who were on the scene.
How does it work initially at the training center?
It was fun. I wanted to, but I didn’t know how to become professional. I didn’t have the idea yet. It was fun. I remember the stupid things we did, the matches we played, all those hours we stayed in the rooms. With the 99 generation, we won all the tournaments. There was Jean-Kévin Duverne, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, Modibo Sagnan, Djibril Diani, Moussa Sylla, Charles Boli, Enzo Ebosse, William Bianda, Randy Mavinga, Tom Ducrocq. It was a very nice promotion. All the names I mentioned to you, we still talk every day. There is true love. We go to a restaurant together on vacation. We play Play together, especially on Call Of. It is Moussa Sylla who does the least kills. (Laughs.)
You were talking nonsense, what was it?
There were plenty of them. One day, we were sleeping in the center, we were hungry. The kitchen was closed, we went through the back. But the center manager was sleeping there and went into the kitchen. And we see the light come on. We all ran away. There were two who got caught. Nsama Simon was one of the prisoners. (Laughs.) And there was the famous story of the fire extinguisher, like Adil Rami. (Laughs.) In the cafeteria, Enzo Ebosse pretended to chase Djibril (Diana). He falls and has a blast. He drops the fire extinguisher and it goes everywhere. It was outrageous, everyone laughed.
At that time, were you overlooking everything?
At 16-17 years old, I was already playing against seniors in reserve. There were a lot of clubs that followed me, yes. With the France team, when you play tournaments in England and you score, it brings the clubs back. At 13, I already knew there were recruiters. I grew up with it. It had become normal.
There was an offer from Manchester United, my parents went there, they met Louis van Gaal. So one day, I went to the office of the Lensois managers for the transfer, and they handed me the contract… from Arsenal.
Among the clubs that wanted you at that time, it was Arsenal who signed you…
Basically, I didn’t want to go there. If I left Lens, it was only to go to Manchester United. I was a fan of the club! There was an offer from Red Devilsmy parents went there, they met Louis van Gaal. So one day, I went to the office of the Lensois managers for the transfer, and they handed me the contract… from Arsenal. They gave more than Manchester United and they also took Jeff-Reine Adelaide with me. I didn’t have much of a say. Lens had financial problems at that time with the Azeri shareholder (Hafiz Mammadov). The club had just sold Baptiste Guillaume, David Faupala, Dimitri Cavaré…
Direction England, then.
I left alone! I ended up with a host family, with Steve and Elaine Greenfield. Their children were older, but they considered me their son. They were Arsenal fans. I was there every weekend with them. But I learned English, I quickly adapted, especially to the food. I ate like them. In the morning, I ate toast, scrambled eggs and red beans. Today, if I see English breakfast at the hotel, I can have that. (Laughs.)
On the football side, how is it going?
The first year, I was with the U18s. Second year with the U23s, and sometimes I alternated with professional training. There was Reiss Nelson, Donyell Malen, Ismaël Bennacer, Eddie Nketiah, Joe Willock, Stephy Mavididi, Josh Da Silva, Jeff (Queen-Adelaide) Of course. Well, he was with the pros all the time, he had his place in the locker room. He was above everyone among the young people, better than me. (Laughs.) It was easy for him.
Francis Coquelin, Mathieu Debuchy and Olivier Giroud often asked me if I needed something.
At that time, in addition, there were many French people at the club, including a certain Arsène Wenger.
I often talked with him. When it was a little harder for me, he came to see me. It was fortunate that there were so many French people. Yaya Sanogo, I still speak with him often. He took me under his wing at the time. Francis Coquelin, Mathieu Debuchy and Olivier Giroud often asked me if I needed something. See you at the training center.
You knew Arsène Wenger coach, but also Thierry Henry among the U18s.
I call it “ the old man ». (Laughs.) It was important. He called me often. It was good. He was getting his coaching diplomas during my time. He saw that I came from Paris, that I was French. He saw himself in me. He was telling the truth, how to position yourself well in relation to your opponent. It’s Mr. Thierry Henry, you can only listen. I didn’t meet him again. Now, he is far from Robert-Diochon, I think. (Laughs.) I saw that he had talked about me recently, that made me happy!
What is your best memory among the Gunners ?
When we go on tour to South Africa, with the young people. I had never traveled this far. We win the tournament, I finish best player, man of the match. It was against PSV Eindhoven, the final. I told myself that I started strong. (Laughs.) The context was beautiful.
Ultimately, you never played professionally there and you bounced around in Sion in Switzerland. Why this choice?
Arsenal wanted to extend my contract and made me an offer for four more years. I wanted to return to France, to play professionally. Clubs were interested, like Nantes and Lille, but things were not moving forward. So, I signed for Sion. The only positive point is that I met my wife there. The president was super nice, but a little crazy. There are things promised to me… He was in control of everything. When he had an idea, he didn’t let it go. It was the people around him who didn’t go well with him. At that time, I was young, still developing. My first year I had four coaches. For progression, it’s difficult. I asked to leave. I wanted to go there, they sent me here. They put me in a loft. Every month there was a new player in the loft.
Then you have a series of loans. Angers, which you will meet again in the Coupe de France, is your first destination.
Ligue 1, I was interested! I arrived in January, physically a little on the street. It’s a bit my fault. I signed on the last day of the transfer window, I wasn’t ready. I have to do prep again for a month. I’m wasting time, it’s the COVID period too. There were no matches. However, I met some beautiful people there, and it will be a pleasure to see them again. Otherwise, there’s no point in going there. I have good memories with them, Melvin Zinga, Lilian Rao Lisa, Ziné (Ould Khaled)Yassin Belkhdim. The draw, I was happy! There is a way to create a surprise. I have always liked stadiums where there is a big atmosphere: Strasbourg, Lens, Saint-Étienne, Marseille. It galvanizes me. I hope it will be hot against Angers.
When I injured my patellar tendon, it lasted 14 months! There were no complications, but after three months in a zero-degree splint, we learned to bend our legs again, to walk, to run, we had to build up our muscles.
The club had a purchase option with this loan. Why didn’t you stay?
The club was banned from recruiting because of the DNCG. So, I’m going back to Sion. The new coach didn’t even know I was on loan. I then told myself that I couldn’t have another white season and I left for Cholet where I had one of my best seasons. I had a great coach: Richard Désiré. I had fun under his orders. But I injured my patellar tendon. I was cut off in full swing… And in February, I returned to Zion.
How was this time away from the field?
My tendon was worn out, so it gave out. It lasted 14 months! There were no complications, but after three months in a zero-degree splint, we learned to bend our legs again, to walk, to run, we had to build up our muscles. It’s a very long job. I went to Clairefontaine twice to get treatment. It’s good, we meet other athletes. Arthur Cazaux, in particular, who became a friend. There was (Kevin) Monnet Paquet, two basketball players too. I’m coming back from injury in April 2023. It’s David Bettoni, the coach. He makes me play directly again, holder. I play all 8 matches. The president doesn’t keep it. A new coach arrives, it’s the management that speaks for him. I don’t get the playing time I think I deserve at this point.
In Ukraine, I saw the tanks, the soldiers. We played a match over two days. I was in a bunker in the middle of a match. You’re sleeping, you hear a missile go by.
Then head to Ukraine. A more than surprising choice.
I go there to play, to have matches and videos, so that people can see that I can play. You could see that it was a country at war, but there were no bombings where I was. I didn’t see my children for five months. I had to drive 10 hours to Poland to catch a plane. I saw the tanks, the soldiers. We played a match over two days. I was in a bunker in the middle of a match. You’re sleeping, you hear a missile go by. It’s an experience. We won against Shakhtar and qualified for the Conference League. Without the war, I would have stayed.
Finally, the Swiss adventure ended last summer and you managed to return to France.
It happened quickly with Quevilly-Rouen-Métropole. I had other offers, in Turkey, in Romania, in Serbia, in Azerbaijan, but, as I was returning from abroad, I needed to find my children (Inaïa, 4 years old, and Kaïs, almost 2 years old). I missed them. Now I have to play a series of matches and have a full season. It will come back. We will try to keep up and we are not very far from the leaders. We have to go for at least the play-offs.
We haven’t talked about it yet, but you’re from Haiti. Would playing for the Grenadiers tempt you?
I have the possibility. The coach has already called me to explain the project. I can also choose Algeria, thanks to my mother. I haven’t made my choice yet. Now is not the time, even if players have already tried to convince me. (Smile.)
Finally, last question, do you have a regret in your career, even though you are still young?
I’ve been through so much you’d think I’m 30 years old. The only regret I have is in 2018, in January. I have to sign for Juventus. Everything was OK, and it stuck. Arsenal didn’t want to let me go, I think. I was disgusted. There, I didn’t mind going with the young people, it’s Juve after all. (Laughs.) There was a plan that had been made. I was already starting to use Duolingo, a translation app. (He laughs.)
