Newcastle dreamed of it.
But Hugo Ekitike dreamed of Paris Saint-Germain.
And the capital club finally prevailed.
Contrary to what one might have thought, the young (20-year-old) French striker, born and trained in Reims, joined the Parc des Princes as part of a loan with an option to buy.
A sleight of hand which should allow Paris to take care of its finances for the watchful eyes of the European financial policeman.
Concerns that are not those of the tall 1.89m stake, all happy to join the French champion.
“
It's a bit of everything, a mix of all the emotions, a lot of pride, joy.
It's really an immense pride to be here for me
, "he explains via the club's media,
To discover
Calendar and results Ligue 1
League 1 standings
It was a logical choice to come here
Hugo Ekitike
And to continue, to explain his decision: “
I am French too, there are players who play here, it impacted my choice, and I have family in the Paris region.
All of this is what makes me think it's the right choice for me.
(…) It was a logical choice to come here.
There are the players to help me progress, a staff and coach who has a lot of experience, the competitions in which PSG is involved… There are all the ingredients for me to progress here.
»
A progression that has been rapid so far, with a 2021-22 season in the form of a revelation.
Appeared twice with Stade de Reims in 2020 before a loan… in Denmark, he scored 10 goals in 23 L1 matches last season, 11 in 26 matches in all competitions.
Statistics that could have been even more impressive without physical glitches.
One thing is certain: Ekitike shone with "
his qualities as a scorer, his disconcerting address for his large size and his technique
", as we rejoice in Reims.
Enough to seduce Parisian recruiters and Luis Campos.
“
I want to bring my touch, my character and my way of appropriating football.
And also to have my impact in the game and to show how Hugo Ekitike plays
”, smiles the
Character and determination
Beyond his qualities as a footballer and his enormous margin for improvement, Ekitike has also impressed with his character and his determination since his debut.
That's good: it takes to support the Parisian pressure.
“
Pressure?
I have always had confidence in my game, in myself.
Above all, I'm looking forward to being on the field to play and to be able to show what I can do.
I have no pressure, no doubt.
I know what I'm capable of and I can't wait to show it
, ”insists the U20 tricolor international, impatient to rub shoulders with the demanding public of the Parc des Princes.
“
The fans, the fans of the stadium, that comes into play because I like the pressure of the matches, when there is tension and expectation around me.
“, he proclaims.
Second recruit “made in Campos” after the young (22) Portuguese midfielder Vitinha, snatched from Porto for 40 M€, Hugo Ekitike should, in the end, cost approximately the same sum.
There is talk of 36 M€ here and there.
In the meantime, other recruits are expected in Paris this summer.
We are talking in particular about Renato Sanches (Lille), Milan Skriniar (Inter) and Gianluca Scamacca (Sassuolo).
But Christophe Galtier is also expecting departures, many departures.
The 55-year-old technician aims to have a group of “
21 field players and a few young people
” for the 2022-23 campaign.
Luis Campos, Antero Henrique and company have their work cut out for them…
