Luis Ferrer, 46, left PSG last December.
But his eyes light up as on the first day as soon as he evokes his eleven years (2009-2020) within the club of the capital.
First a member of the recruitment unit, he then spent two years (2017-2019) in the reactor core as deputy to the sports director Antero Henrique.
The Argentinian, whose sports management agency (lf-360.com) which already manages the careers (legal, sports, image…) of a dozen players, has agreed to open his memory box to us.
And to come back, in particular, behind the scenes of the transfer of Kylian Mbappé, of which he was one of the major players.
How did your adventure at PSG start?
LUIS FERRER.
I was a recruiter for Saint-Etienne alongside Omar Da Fonseca when Alain Roche, then sports director of PSG, came to pick me up in 2009. In Paris, my mission was to identify and suggest players from Italy, from Spain, Portugal and South America.
Like Lo Celso, for example, who signed in Paris in July 2016?
Yes.
(He smiles)
I have come back several times with this file.
At first Lo Celso didn't start in the Argentine Premier League, but I insisted because I knew he was a player of the future.
And that even if it did not impose itself on PSG, it would have resale value in the market.
Why upon his arrival, in June 2017, Antero Henrique, whom you did not know, did he trust you?
Because beyond the fact that we spoke the same language, we were complementary in the very complicated file of the transfer of Kylian Mbappé to Paris.
During the summer, I suggested that he go on the offensive.
I had just learned that Real Madrid did not secure a starting place for Kylian, so I suggested to Antero that Unai Emery make a commitment to him in this regard.
A commitment he made during a lunch in the Bondy family home ...
Yes, that day I remember how very strong Unai was, very good!
He gave Kylian his word that he would play with him.
And he kept his promise.
Kylian wasn't quite ready in a Champions League game but Unai had signed up, so he made him play anyway.
How often were you in Monaco that summer?
At the beginning, I made very frequent trips.
But one evening I returned to Paris at 10:30 p.m.
When I arrived, I called Antero to take stock and he was surprised that I had not stayed in the South.
The next day, at 6 am I took the first flight.
Two hours later, I rang at the Mbappé's door with the croissants
(laughs)
.
September 6, 2017, day of the official presentation of Kylian Mbappé at the Parc des Princes (here, with his brother Ethan and his father, Wilfrid).
LP / Fred Dugit
What was the purpose of your permanent presence?
To reassure the family.
Antero Henrique gave me carte blanche but he warned me: “This transfer, we have to do it!
I got closer to Marc Westerloppe, who knew the family well.
At that time, my head was 100% devoted to Mbappé!
My goal was to convince them not to opt for Real Madrid.
And it was not easy, Jorge Mendes
(Editor's note: famous agent who worked on the file for Real)
gave me the total so that we give up
(laughs)
.
What made the difference in favor of PSG?
The sports project.
If there had been an agent at the negotiating table, Paris would probably never have signed Kylian.
But since it was Kylian's mom and dad who represented him, money never came into the picture.
We were a year away from the World Cup, Kylian was 18, and they understood that in Paris he was going to play.
While at Real, there was still the BBC (Benzema, Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo).
Do you remember the day Mbappé gave his answer in Paris?
Yes of course, because when he told us yes, there was strong reluctance at PSG.
Not on the athlete's side, but some at the club thought it would never pass to the level of financial fair play.
This is also why the signing took place so late on August 31 at the Hôtel des Bleus in Enghien-les-Bains (Val-d'Oise), after a night of negotiations at the PSG headquarters.
Did you continue to play an active role with the family after this signing?
No, but we have established a relationship of trust and complicity.
I often talk about football with Wilfrid, Kylian's dad.
Moreover, if one day I took a football club, it is to him that I would entrust the keys of the athlete.
I share 100% his vision of football.
Read also Mercato: a star, a midfielder, a side ... the recovery plan of PSG for the next season
You also had a special relationship with Edinson Cavani ...
And she is still excellent.
Cavani
(Editor's note: today at Manchester United)
is an atypical player, I don't know any other like him.
He had to do only two evenings during his entire adventure in Paris.
He has never succumbed to the glamorous side of the capital.
No human being can do that.
His life is football, 100%.
What was his feeling when he left Paris?
He was terribly disappointed with how it all ended.
That's why he chose not to play in Final 8, it wasn't about money.
Myself, I thought he was going to play it.
But he was so disappointed that he couldn't.
It was a strong choice.
During all these years, do you have a regret on a player that you could not bring?
(His face lights up)
Yes but this one, I can't give his name, it would be a bomb!
De Jong?
No, it's much bigger than that!
De Jong, we did everything we could.
At the time, I even called one of our players to convince him.
But Barcelona represent something special for the Dutch, it is a choice of the heart that he made.
It wasn't about the money.
Are you, along with Antero Henrique, at the origin of the arrival of Navas?
Antero started working on the Navas case in November 2018. He was speaking live with Keylor.
When he left in June 2019 and Leonardo arrived, the file was ready, locked and 100% complete.
What are the shortcomings of PSG today?
A right side is missing.
Florenzi has helped out this season but you need someone strong in this role.
But this is only a personal reflection, I do not want to interfere in this.
I trust Pochettino to take stock of the situation and find out what he needs.
What image does he have in Argentina?
His image is exceptional, he is recognized as a great professional.
With us, there are no half measures, we love it or hate it.
Pochettino is one of the most popular coaches of the new generation along with Simeone and Gallardo.
VIDEO.
Salah, Aurier, Camavinga ... how the club could strengthen
Wijnaldum, Camavinga… If you had to choose a player this summer for PSG, who would you take?
I cannot answer this question.
Or I can quote ten to you, like N'Golo Kanté… The first thing is that you need a confirmed player.
In Paris, a young person does not have time, if he does not perform immediately even you, the journalists will fall on him ...
Why did you leave PSG?
Because after being an assistant to Antero, I couldn't go back to being a recruiter again.
Leonardo arriving with his deputy
(Editor's note: Angelo Castellazzi)
, I logically left the decision-making process.
We had to turn the page.
But it was done without bitterness, I thank PSG for opening its doors to me and allowing me to live all these unique experiences.