On the grounds of France, many dream of a football career but few know that a career can quickly turn into a nightmare.
"It goes very quickly, in both directions," says Thomas Chesneau, who has experienced everything a footballer can experience in a career.
A half and a half ago, this young 21-year-old goalkeeper had to sign his first pro contract at PSG after having done all his training there.
We find him today, after many adventures and a year without playing, in Romanian D2, where he could well, against all odds, relaunch his career.
"I am finally given my chance and I will do everything to seize it", delivers this young man determined and very mature for his age.
Thomas Chesneau has long followed the ideal path: childhood in the Paris region, training at PSG from the age of 11, six months with the pro group from January 2019 in the company of Buffon and Areola, and the promise of a first contract pro to be fourth keeper.
The dream life.
Until this day of May 22 - he cites the date from memory - when he suddenly falls from a height.
"I found myself with nothing"
“I was at the hotel with the pro group before the last day of Ligue 1, and Maxwell (club ambassador in Brazil) and Antero Henrique (sports director) came to see me, he recalls.
We were supposed to sign my contract a week later.
Everything was stalled.
But that day, they informed me that they had changed their minds and that they had decided to hire Bulka
(Editor's note: Marcin Bulka, recruited at Chelsea)
.
It is their choice.
But it hurt my heart.
Besides, we were at the end of the season, and I couldn't try out anywhere anymore because everyone was going on vacation.
I found myself with nothing.
"
Thomas Chesneau (here, right in 2019) played alongside Areola and Buffon.
Sports Press
The following months are difficult.
He changes representatives.
He has touches in Tunisia but administrative reasons prevent him from being qualified.
He continues to meet in amateur clubs in the Paris region, and in sports halls thanks to his father, a sports coach.
The Covid goes through there and blocks all transfers.
“I had a very hard time,” he says.
I was wondering: will anyone believe in me?
I thought about quitting.
If I had not found a club this summer, I would probably have moved on.
Fortunately, I was well surrounded by my parents, my girlfriend, and my agent.
"
Steps to obtain Romanian nationality
It is moreover his companion, of Romanian nationality, who struggles and finds him contacts in the clubs of his country of origin.
He dives back to Concordia Chiajna, in the suburbs of Bucharest.
"I'm very happy to start from lower to show what I can do," says the one who dreamed of the Champions League and the World Cup when he was a child.
He is learning Romanian, after having discovered Italian at PSG.
And takes the necessary steps to obtain Romanian nationality.
He could thus theoretically be selectable for Romania, six years after his only selection in Blue, with the French U16s.
“That year hardened me,” he says.
She made me grow up.
From dream to nightmare.
And maybe soon from nightmare to dream.
