Author of the equalizer in the 90th minute against AC Ajaccio (1-1) last Saturday, Saïd Arab scored his second goal in L2.
The first of his career at this level, on October 17 against Pau (1-0), he had celebrated on his knees, both fingers pointed towards the sky.
A tribute to his cousin Osama, who died last January.
“When I scored, the first thing I thought about was him,” explains the 20-year-old Paris FC midfielder.
We have always lived this dream together, we talked about celebration together… I considered him as my brother.
We had a very strong bond.
This goal was a wonderful emotion, there was everything… ”
Saïd Arab, who grew up in the Audra city in Colombes (92), has a sense of family.
"I owe everything to my father and my mother, they have always been there for me", recognizes the one who chose the number 6, "the favorite number of (his) mother".
When he was 13, his father took his family to spend a year in Algeria in Oran.
A life experience that he says “totally changed” him.
“I was not the same when I got home.
I saw things differently than a teenager my age.
I have matured, Saïd analysis.
I learned the real value of things and to be more rigorous.
Here, we have everything, everything is simpler, we are carefree.
In Algeria, I saw people in difficulty, young people struggling to get crampons, just being happy to play on red soil… It was not the Algeria of the holidays.
I cannot thank my father enough for making us understand that we were privileged in France.
"
On the football side, Saïd Arab, who was playing in his category at the time of Asmo Oran, scored the decisive goal in the final of the City Cup against USM Oran.
"It was a way of thanking everyone, when I left I cried, I still kept lots of contact with my former teammates," he explains.
The Algerian Federation is following him closely.
“There have been approaches.
For my family and I, it would be a great pride to represent Algeria.
I would also pay tribute to my cousin because we talked about it often.
It would be wonderful if I was called up in hopes.
"
Despite his young age, Arab has already known several clubs before joining Paris FC in June: Racing, ACBB, Asmo Oran, Clichy, PSG, Metz and the Red Star.
Outclassed in U17 at PSG, he played with Adli, Yaisien, Postolachi, Dina-Ebimbe… “It was a good year, but it was a bit blocked for me.
There were a lot of players under contract and I could only have stayed externally, not at the training center.
"
He therefore joined that of Metz in 2016. During his second season, he learned of his mother's serious illness.
“I was not well, my body was in Metz but my head was in Colombes, at home.
We made an arrangement with Metz and I chose to come back to my family.
Football is my passion, my dream, but the most important thing was my mother's health.
"
After a few months without playing, Arab signed to the Red Star, where he broke last season in the National.
Approached by several L1 clubs including Saint-Etienne, he preferred "not to cut corners" and sign for Paris FC.
This choice caused him some inconvenience.
“A lot of Red Star supporters did not understand it,” he regrets.
There were nasty comments, I even received threats.
I am a little one from Paris who chose to stay in his region, near mine, so it hurt me to read all this.
Fortunately, since then everything has been arranged.
I was able to chat with some Red Star supporters.
A few even came to Charléty to see me play at the start of the season and I am now receiving messages of encouragement and congratulations.
“Since the start of the season, René Girard has used it mainly as a wildcard (3 starts for 12 entries).
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“The coach knows how to talk to young people.
Me, I am learning, discovering the professional world.
Everything I experience, good and bad, is good for my baggage.
I do not let go.
Even for 10 minutes, I have to show that I'm ready.
This is what happened against Ajaccio where we, the entrants, made the difference.
"