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Wherever Moussa Diaby represents Aston Villa, he carries fond memories of his childhood with him. He dons the No 19 jersey as a tribute to the 19th district of Paris, where he grew up in the north-eastern part of the city. He explains, “I chose this number to show my friends and family that they are always on my mind. I am grateful to this district for nurturing me and supporting me, and I will always remember it.”
The player has been wearing the same shirt number since he first joined Crotone in Serie A on loan from Paris Saint-Germain as a young teenager. He then went on to wear the same number at Bayer Leverkusen, where he made a name for himself as one of the most promising young talents. This caught the attention of Villa, who made him their most expensive signing during the summer. However, at PSG, where he had been since the age of 13, there was a small problem. “I remember Lassana Diarra, a great player who also played for Real Madrid, had the number 19,” Diaby recalls with a smile. “I was still young and couldn’t ask to change numbers… I just wanted to play.”
Growing up as one of 10 siblings from Mali, the idea of playing for PSG in Europe seemed like a far-off fantasy. “It was challenging, but not entirely out of reach,” he recalls. However, everything changed when Diaby received the opportunity to be a ballboy at Parc des Princes for a match against Lille at the age of 15. It was his first time stepping foot into a large stadium.
Diaby and Fofana, who both hail from the same district in France, were inspired to invite youngsters from their old neighborhood to join them at their Europa League playoff matches in February. Diaby, Fofana, and fellow Marseille player Harit all grew up near each other and played for Esperance Paris 19eme, where Diaby’s coach and longtime advisor was Losseni Sy. Reflecting on the experience, Diaby shared that they aimed to invite as many children as possible, as they had never been given such an opportunity when they were growing up in the area. He also expressed his desire to give back to the community and inspire young children to dream big.
The determination of Diaby’s arrival at Villa Park has led to a continuous rise, making it a formidable fortress. Recently, Villa defeated Manchester City, extending their winning streak at home to 14 matches – matching a record from 1930-31. This has even caught the attention of Pep Guardiola, who considers Villa to be title contenders. Arsenal, the current league leaders, will be visiting Villa on Saturday, giving them an opportunity to gauge their potential. Along with their domestic success, Villa is also favored to win the Europa Conference League. Diaby is hopeful that a strong finish this season will secure him a spot in France’s Euro 2024 squad.
Diaby developed his abilities in the culturally diverse urban environment of Paris, specifically near Rue du Maroc. In addition to practicing at a nearby park, he also enjoyed playing futsal, basketball, and volleyball. Despite some distractions, he reflects with a grin that he made both good and not-so-good choices during his time there. He admits with a smile that he would sometimes sneak out without his parents’ permission to play with friends, but chooses not to disclose all the details. That familiar broad smile appears once again.
Diaby places great importance on being fast. He believes that his natural speed is his most prominent skill, but it is also something he has honed with guidance from Kylian Mbappé. Mbappé’s competitive nature extends to training at PSG, where he always strives to score. He advised Diaby to utilize his speed, and following this advice has led to improvement. As one grows older, they become more aware of their physical and mental capabilities, which has also contributed to Diaby’s progress. Mbappé not only helped with Diaby’s positioning, but also gave him the confidence to use his speed to attack with his own unique abilities. Diaby acknowledges that they both possess similar qualities in terms of speed, but when asked who is faster, he quickly responds with a laugh, “Him.”
Diaby has certainly hit the ground running at Villa. He scored the first of his four goals for the club on debut at Newcastle and registered his fourth assist by expertly supplying Ollie Watkins for a 90th-minute equaliser at Bournemouth last weekend. Diaby, who has settled with his young family in Sutton Coldfield, concedes he knew little about Villa before signing but his compatriots Lucas Digne and Boubacar Kamara offered him a potted history of sorts.
Diaby is modest about his English skills, but he successfully completed a 40-minute interview without any difficulties. Digne, Clément Lenglet, and the Belgian midfielder Youri Tielemans, who is fluent in French, are available to assist with translation during training if needed. “I had watched the Premier League prior to coming here and observed the high level of intensity and physicality in the game. I wanted to prove that I can compete with top players in this league. It’s not an easy task. You have to be dedicated and prepared to work hard every day.”
Diaby and the Villa manager, Emery, have a history dating back several years. Emery invited Diaby, then an 18-year-old academy player, to train with the PSG first-team squad during an international break. In his debut season as a professional, Diaby was in the company of renowned players such as Mbappé, Neymar, Verratti, Thiago Silva, and Marquinhos. Later, Gianluigi Buffon joined the team. While PSG’s lineup may have shifted since then, Emery’s high expectations have remained the same.
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According to Diaby, the coach encourages players to strive for continuous improvement by setting high standards. He doesn’t criticize harshly, but he consistently challenges us to do our best. Diaby believes there is much to be gained from working with this coach.
In July, the 24-year-old had two options: either join Emery’s Villa revolution or team up with Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, as they matched Villa’s bid of €60m. Diaby is among the few players who have turned down a lucrative transfer to the Gulf.
I chose to join this project and after speaking with the coach, I was even more convinced. Playing in the Premier League has always been a goal of mine, as I have never had the opportunity before. While discussing options with my agent and family, my initial desire was to come here in order to compete against top teams. It is widely known that the Premier League is the top league in the world.
This is also a chance for Diaby to return to the biggest stage. Villa, who came in seventh place last season, have been open about their goal to break into the top four this year. Emery made it clear in his pitch that he wants to elevate Villa to the level of Europe’s best teams. When asked if other teams in a similar position would downplay their goals, Diaby’s response is revealing. “When you have confidence, you can talk about anything,” he says. “If you want to reach the top four, you need to have confidence in your teammates and coaches. I believe this team has the potential to compete for a top four spot and play in the Champions League next season.”
Source: theguardian.com
