‘I am living my dream’ – Désiré Doué reacts to first France call-up after late arrival | OneFootball

Désiré Doué (19), after a difficult start to life at the Parc des Princes, is thriving at Paris Saint-Germain. The €50m arrival from Stade Rennais has become an influential member of Luis Enrique’s squad, either off the bench or from the start.

He put in a strong performance after coming on as a substitute against Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League, netting the winning spot-kick in the shootout to secure PSG’s progression to the quarter-finals.

Doué late for first day

His week got even better two days later as he received his first call-up to the France squad. However, as shown in images broadcast by the FFF on Monday, Doué arrived late for the first day of training.

“You’re with Warren (Zaïre-Emery)? That’s why you’re late? […] there are some managers where you would leave straight away,” Didier Deschamps told the pair.

That moment hasn’t dented Doué’s optimism as he spoke to the press for the first time since the call-up. “I am here to play. I have ambitions. All players want to play […] I am living my dream. I am trying to put everything that is happening to me into perspective,” he said.

He denies, however, that his summer move to PSG “accelerated” the process of making the step up from U21-level to senior football. “I should thank PSG and notably the president who helped me a lot and convinced me to come. I don’t think that joining PSG accelerated my process in joining the France team. It is my work above all,” he said.

Doué will be hoping to make his France debut during the current international break. Les Bleus face Croatia on Thursday in the UEFA Nations League and then again next Tuesday.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle