From UNEMPLOYMENT to AFCON, UEFA & AFC Champion!! The Rise of Edouard Mendy

0:00 It's the game I've played with the most pressure.

0:02 You have 8,000 people loud.

0:04 When I went out for the warm-up,

0:06 I was really like Former Chelsea goalkeeper, two-time AFCON winner,

0:13 [music] and now Al Ahly's captain, Edouard Mendy.

0:15 Did they get into your head a little bit?

0:16 For 2 days after the game, [music] for 2 days I had the like

0:19 this noise in my head because they were too loud.

0:22 [music] I'll never understand how a decision could be

0:26 overturned in a boardroom 58 days after the match.

0:31 Why is this happening?

0:33 [music] This one, I have to be honest.

0:35 What can I say to my kid?

0:37 [music] You have to succeed.

0:38 This is my payback.

0:39 Pressure of family, pressure of the game, pressure of life.

0:42 What do you do to get away from it all when you need a break?

0:45 Do you have like a place where you can go to [music] de-stress?

0:48 Premier League How tough is that league to play in?

0:51 It's so tough.

0:52 It's the best league in the [music] world.

0:54 Who's louder, Chelsea or Ahly fans?

0:58 [laughter] Whose idea, [music] when you guys were in the dressing room,

1:01 whose idea was it to come back onto the pitch and to finish the game?

1:40 [music] [music] Ready, captain.

1:57 Ready, ready.

2:00 I think this is Yeah, I'm sure this is the first time in my career

2:04 as a podcaster where the guest arrives in Saudi,

2:08 drops his family home, and then comes for an episode.

2:12 So, I'm very grateful for you, sir, captain Ademola Lookman.

2:18 I'm going to start by getting right into the story.

2:23 And I want to know from all your years of playing football,

2:27 have you ever had your towel taken by an opposing bench player?

2:31 Or was the AFCON final the first time that ever happened?

2:35 Yeah, it was the the first time it happened to me.

2:41 I never experienced that before.

2:44 But, you know, it's football.

2:47 I think in this sport you can you can see a a lot of things and unfortunately,

2:53 these things uh happened.

2:56 Um when these things happen,

2:59 you just have to to to stay focused on on your game.

3:03 And it was a such a big game.

3:07 So, I had to stay focused and and not think too much about that.

3:13 And I think this is what I I've done with the help of my uh goalkeeper,

3:19 Yeavany, who really supported me.

3:22 And yes, I think it's another story uh in my career.

3:29 When I saw three of the opposing players trying to rip the towel off him,

3:35 I was like, there is no way that clip is real.

3:38 AI is getting good these days, and it turned out that was the case.

3:42 So, not only did you guys have to battle a crazy match on the field,

3:46 but there was a whole theater happening off the field.

3:50 One of the trickiest games you've ever been a part of, would you say?

3:54 Oh, I think it's the it's the trickiest game, the final I ever played.

3:58 Yes, yeah, I think uh there was a there was a lot going

4:03 on uh around and um and the [snorts] pressure uh of the game,

4:07 I think it's the it's the game I've played

4:10 with the the most pressure uh to be honest.

4:15 Um obviously I played the uh couple games with the a lot of pressure,

4:22 uh a lot of uh expectations.

4:25 But uh this one, uh I have to be honest, um you know,

4:30 when you play uh um against the country who who organized the The hosts, yeah.

4:36 the the the AFCON was the AFCON and um

4:41 and you have 80,000 people uh loud loud, to be honest.

4:46 When I went out for the the warm-up, I was like I never seen that.

4:52 Like I was like really like what?

4:56 And uh they were really created an atmosphere that not doubting,

5:02 but uh really like put a heavy pressure on us.

5:05 This is what And they they really did it.

5:08 The atmosphere was crazy.

5:10 Did they get into your head a little bit?

5:12 For 2 days after the game, for 2 days I had the like this noise like No way.

5:17 in my uh ears and my head because they were too loud.

5:21 I never I never experienced that, never ever.

5:25 So, what we what what we felt and what we um experienced on the the field,

5:33 I think uh it happens only once in the life.

5:36 We were supposed to shoot uh a few

5:39 weeks ago and then our schedules weren't aligned.

5:41 Mhm.

5:42 But my opening five questions for you 3 weeks

5:44 ago were completely different to what I have right now.

5:47 Yes.

5:48 Yes.

5:48 So, if you'd allow me for those who aren't aware,

5:52 who are unaware of what happened uh in um in Morocco 3 months ago,

5:58 I think at this point, almost 3 months ago.

6:01 The African Football Federation announced that after

6:04 58 days since Senegal lifted the AFCON trophy,

6:09 they would then strip them off their title,

6:11 only to declare Morocco as the new champions.

6:14 I've never seen anything like this in my 35 years of watching the sports.

6:18 I started [snorts] watching at 7 years old.

6:19 I'm 42 today, so in 35 years, I've never seen anything like this happen.

6:24 Edu, [snorts] what's happening to the game?

6:27 We need to remember it's that the game went until the end, you know,

6:33 and uh there was a squad uh who has been cleared for everybody,

6:40 you know, and um we we saw the celebration.

6:45 So, you know, it's like football game, you know,

6:49 there is one team who's happy, the other one's sad.

6:54 But, this is the part of the the game,

6:57 you know, and um thanks God we were there,

7:00 the team uh who were happy that day because we we put uh

7:06 an incredible performance uh against the against

7:12 the team who host the the tournament.

7:16 One of the best team in the world, I I have to say Solid team.

7:19 Very solid team was there.

7:21 What's their ranking?

7:23 I think now they're top 10, eighth eighth,

7:25 I think, but it's well deserved, you know.

7:27 The Morocco is there since uh more than four five years,

7:34 I think what they're doing it's very high level.

7:38 I mean, they they went to the semi-finals of the World Cup in Qatar,

7:40 only losing to France 2-1, was it?

7:42 It was a very tough game.

7:43 Some people say that Morocco should have won that game.

7:46 Yeah, I was I was watching that game, you know, and you know,

7:50 when we talk about details on the very high highest level, it was about that.

7:55 They were very close to do something

7:57 like even more historical than they they've done.

8:01 So, yeah, since 4-5 days, I think they're like top 10 in the world.

8:07 So, for us, it was a an incredible opponent.

8:11 And yeah, so the performance was a huge from our part.

8:17 And um we took the trophy celebrate in our country.

8:24 And went back to to our club duties, you know, so for us,

8:32 it was a all normal, you know, like the process when you win something.

8:38 And and yeah, this this news came out.

8:43 And yeah, then suddenly it was a clearly different picture.

8:49 I thought it was April Fool's Day joke and I was like,

8:51 "No, April Fool's Day is in 10 days." [laughter] They were a bit early.

8:56 Today.

8:56 April 1st is today.

8:58 I was like, "Okay, can't be an April Fool's Day joke." Anyway,

9:00 my team and I went back and we we did a bit of research and we

9:03 pulled out the article from the International Football

9:07 Association Board IFAB article 5.2, if you'd allow me.

9:12 It states that the referee's decision on facts connected with play,

9:17 such as goals scored or the results, are final.

9:20 Meaning when the minutes of that game is over,

9:23 whatever the referee decided is what stays.

9:26 This law establishes that referee holds absolute authority to make decisions

9:31 based on their opinions and in the spirit of the game.

9:35 End quote.

9:36 I'll never understand how a decision could be

9:40 overturned in a boardroom 58 days after the match.

9:46 Why is this happening?

9:51 [snorts] I I think unfortunately um the timing was really really bad first.

9:59 [snorts] And you know, I think after the first the first coach

10:04 um I think like everybody was like kind of move on [clears throat]

10:09 with that, you know.

10:11 And uh start to be focused on what's coming next, which is the World Cup.

10:18 And yeah, we had this decision.

10:23 Uh I can say coming from from nowhere.

10:27 Um who said that now we are not the champions anymore.

10:35 So, yeah, it was a really like a mix of feelings

10:42 because I remember it was the the Champions League days.

10:46 So, we were I think everybody was watching the the Champions League

10:51 and and then I saw that news came up and I was like yeah,

10:57 it's it's a joke, you know, like uh some media did they didn't

11:02 make their research and they just like posted.

11:04 So, it's a mistake, you know.

11:07 And then I I was like on the [clears throat]

11:10 the CAF like website and then it was real.

11:14 So, There was no rumors that it's under investigation.

11:18 It was literally just announcement done Morocco wins 3-0.

11:21 Yeah, announcement That's why I thought it was an April Fool's Day joke.

11:24 Yeah, like everybody I think and uh and yeah,

11:28 unfortunately we we are speaking with the the Federation

11:33 and the officials and they were

11:35 saying like hey this is the the statement from the the CAF so so they

11:40 going to for sure work on it and and find the why because like I

11:50 said it came from from nowhere so it is what it is right now but um

11:59 our Federation now they work on it we are very confident uh on what it's

12:08 going to be the the the end because it can only have one hand which is

12:16 like Senegal having back the trophy that they won on the on the field you

12:22 know so we let the the Federation is

12:26 working and we'll see what what happens next.

12:30 So the people on the other side watching

12:33 would say yes Mo but you're not talking about

12:35 what happened on the other side of the story

12:37 which is that Senegal exited the pitch and they

12:40 went to the dressing room for 14 minutes

12:43 and then you guys came back on Morocco takes

12:46 a penalty that's game resumed so the claim

12:50 that the game has been abandoned is false the moment

12:54 that Morocco agreed to take the penalty and you saved it my point is and I said

13:00 this a few times will Morocco file a appeal

13:07 or whatever about the abandonment if they scored

13:11 that penalty and they won no they filed

13:14 an appeal that the game was not fair because you

13:21 abandoned the pitch because they lost which means they're

13:25 doing it for the wrong reasons on a technicality.

13:30 My question for you is whose idea, when you guys were in the dressing room,

13:36 whose idea was it to come back onto the pitch and to finish the game?

13:42 First, like um you know,

13:44 because they said like people say like everybody left the the pitch,

13:50 but um which is not true because there was players still on the on the field.

13:56 Oh, I didn't know that.

13:57 Yeah, so it's really [clears throat] important to mention

13:59 it and that's why the referee it did not uh whistle the end of the game because

14:04 there was still players on the on the field.

14:07 And uh he mentioned it on the on the the files that the you know the reports.

14:15 Yep.

14:15 So he just mentioned that uh it was um the game stopping

14:21 like um for a moment but not like the team uh who abandoned the pitch.

14:28 Yes, abandoned because it was not the case.

14:31 So um from that I think it's clear.

14:36 Like there is no case, you know, if the referee said that uh we did not abandon.

14:45 It's fine, you know, uh it was like uh the the game was stopping

14:51 for a moment but uh it restarted so from that there

14:58 is no need to talk about the what happened

15:00 on the field because the game went until the end.

15:04 And I hope the lawyers take a look at that because I know that the Senegalese

15:07 FA appealed the decision and I hope the lawyers in charge of the case

15:12 look into that and realize that it was

15:15 an incorrect decision to award Morocco a victory

15:18 and and crowning them as champions by way

15:20 of 3-0 because you abandoned the pitch.

15:23 Because the fact is is that you guys didn't.

15:25 Right.

15:26 No, we didn't.

15:27 We didn't.

15:28 If like all the teams will be uh out, there would be no case.

15:33 We would not even talk about this today.

15:36 But there was still players on the field.

15:38 There was like uh uh moment like yes,

15:42 [clears throat] when like there was a mix of feelings and yes,

15:47 some players went inside, but uh came back uh straight after.

15:52 And um the game like uh just continued,

15:55 so um for me uh to talk about this and and use

16:02 this to to say that um uh we lost the game,

16:08 I think it's uh it's a bit uh weird, you know?

16:13 It's not uh it's not the reality.

16:17 The reality is that the game went until the end.

16:20 Correct.

16:20 There was one winner.

16:22 Unfortunately for them, one loser.

16:26 As I said, there was one team happy, one team sad.

16:30 This is the part of the game, you know?

16:32 And uh from that, there was one champions and one runner-up.

16:39 That's it, you know?

16:40 And uh uh kids were there.

16:45 People were there in the stadium, you know?

16:47 It's not like uh football, it's not something that you can I think uh you know,

16:52 just resume or going back and change like the the narrative or the scenario.

16:59 It doesn't work that way.

17:00 work like this, you know?

17:01 No.

17:01 People were there that day.

17:03 People they they know what they they felt.

17:08 They know what they they have seen.

17:10 Yeah.

17:10 They know uh who is the champions, you know?

17:13 Uh some people they were crying because they were sad.

17:17 Some people they were crying because they were happy.

17:20 This is emotion.

17:22 This is football.

17:23 And emotion was given that day.

17:27 Emotion was given that day and it will stay for the rest of our life.

17:33 Our life.

17:34 The finals was watched by billion.

17:38 So how can Like last time I was on the plane

17:42 I was thinking like uh What can I say to my kid?

17:47 Yeah.

17:49 My kid was in Morocco.

17:52 He was He was celebrating.

17:54 He was crying.

17:56 He was happy, you know?

17:58 How did you explain it to him?

18:00 So now [clears throat] I was sitting on the plane.

18:01 I was like I To be honest I you know because we are saying everything.

18:10 I didn't know.

18:11 I was hoping that nobody talked to him about this.

18:15 Oh, you didn't want your your sons to know of this.

18:18 I didn't want my I don't blame you.

18:20 Yeah, my sons to to know about that because we

18:25 play football and um they play football for emotions, you know?

18:32 For emotions uh uh giving by the field, you know?

18:38 By your efforts, by um um the team spirit,

18:43 by what you create as a team uh on the field, you know?

18:48 And um by all these things you will create a result, you know?

18:56 Winning or losing.

18:57 But you win, it's process.

19:00 You losing, it's also part of process.

19:03 But by the football you can give like some um principle of life,

19:11 you know, like winning, like working hard, like um really like working

19:18 together for like a common goal, you know?

19:23 So, how do I explain to my kids?

19:27 It's tough.

19:29 How do I explain to my kids that what I tried to teach him, you know?

19:38 As through the football.

19:39 The ethics, yeah.

19:41 The morals.

19:42 The morals like credibility.

19:43 Credibility of of this uh of this sport, [clears throat] you know,

19:48 of like what uh the the this sport can bring.

19:53 How do I explain him that uh it's not it's not that.

19:59 There's too much unfairness in this world today.

20:02 Politics, wars all over the world.

20:05 At least the sport that we love, let's call it fair.

20:08 And we know we all You know,

20:10 when you when you check like the FIFA the the the words

20:16 of the the FIFA is like football unites the world, you know?

20:19 Yeah.

20:19 And um and um unfortunately uh like with this it

20:28 like it has like the oppo- opposite like effect.

20:32 So, yeah.

20:33 it's um it's a shame and uh you know,

20:37 uh the amount of support we received like this uh two last weeks,

20:42 it's just unbelievable, you know?

20:45 Yeah.

20:45 Yeah.

20:45 It's a lot more Senegalese fans today.

20:47 It it's like you know, it's like as you said,

20:49 as a like uh lover of the of the sports,

20:54 you know, you just like uh kind of supports

20:59 like uh the the the real champions, you know?

21:03 So, you know, when we went to France, we had the we had a lot of supports.

21:08 To be honest, I was like uh it was unexpected from me.

21:13 Like the the amount of support we received for anywhere,

21:19 you know, like uh we just take the taxi,

21:21 you know, someone recognize you and you say like,

21:24 "Yeah, we support you, you are the champions.

21:27 Yeah, just keep keep on going,

21:29 you know." Uh when you go to the stadium you know,

21:33 to to sold out a stadium outside of uh Africa for um African team.

21:42 This is not common, you know.

21:43 And uh the the the Stade de France, 80,000 people uh for our game.

21:51 It's crazy, you know.

21:53 They started with the 40,000, you know.

21:57 Uh [clears throat] 40,000 uh seats.

22:00 They said like, "Okay,

22:01 we open the stadium and we give you 40 40,000." And in 12 hours was uh sold out.

22:08 So, then from 40 they increased to 50.

22:12 Same.

22:12 5 hours sold out.

22:15 They didn't expect that.

22:16 They didn't expect it.

22:17 And then from 50 they say 80.

22:19 And it was uh sold out.

22:21 So many new Senegalese fans in the world today.

22:24 Yeah.

22:24 Yeah, yeah, so many new.

22:25 Yeah.

22:26 So many new and you know, for us

22:28 traveled from Senegal, I'm sure, to watch against the group.

22:30 Yeah, yeah, people a lot of people traveled from Senegal.

22:33 the team.

22:34 Yeah, but not only Senegal, you know,

22:35 people from the Senegalese people from all around uh Europe.

22:40 Europe, yeah.

22:40 Yeah, I'm sure it was a lot.

22:41 Yeah, because it was really like uh it was really like uh a good day Yeah.

22:48 connect to connect us during this uh weird time.

22:53 And um just here to celebrate uh the football.

22:57 Incredible.

22:57 Whose idea was it to um to walk out with the trophy before the Peru game?

23:02 I saw you.

23:02 We'll put the picture up right now on YouTube.

23:06 [laughter] No.

23:06 [snorts] You know, this this type of things because people unfortunately they

23:13 they want to they want to make it like uh like okay,

23:20 this team is arrogance, you know, they they they just make it by arrogance.

23:25 They just want to to play with uh with this decision.

23:29 They want to play with the the calf, but but not, you know,

23:34 really like all these things were already planned and paid and everything,

23:40 you know, and um so this is something that was already like signed and planned.

23:47 So whatever the decision was and uh for sure

23:53 we are disagree with that, but um we really like wanted to to do it because uh

24:00 we feel as a champions and we are champions.

24:03 So for us it was normal to celebrate, you know, no offense to anybody,

24:09 really like we were really in our moment like that we worked so hard to to get

24:16 there and we were really like wanted to celebrate

24:21 with uh not only like the the Senegalese people,

24:26 but only like the people who loves like the game who loves like football.

24:31 So it was really like a celebration of of football in Paris and uh yeah,

24:37 it's a day that I think all the people who were there will remember.

24:44 Hey guys, I hope you've been enjoying the episode with Edouard Mendy.

24:48 I know I have.

24:49 I want to tell you something about Most Picks,

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25:27 On many occasions, I had to order it from noon, and it was delivered in no time.

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25:40 Enjoy the rest of the episode.

25:44 What was your early memories like looking back at childhood, your parents?

25:48 Uh what do you remember the most of your early years, even before the game?

25:54 Your parents.

25:55 Take me back to the early days.

25:58 [laughter] Well, the the early days, you know,

26:00 um I grew up with a um my brothers, sister, um in France.

26:06 How many How many?

26:07 small city, like three [clears throat] brothers, one bigger bro, two little,

26:12 Okay.

26:12 and the one big sister.

26:15 So, we we grew up in the in a city in France, uh Le Havre.

26:20 So, um you know, we were kind of uh uh like uh in in Senegal,

26:27 but in France, you know?

26:28 Yeah, yeah, yeah.

26:29 So, we know same culture, same vision.

26:32 And um yeah, it was a a really nice uh childhood.

26:37 Um I really enjoyed the high time uh when I was young there,

26:42 and um yeah, um with my parents always around, you know?

26:48 Uh my my dad was uh you know, I don't know how you call it.

26:53 He was cleaning the streets.

26:54 A street cleaner?

26:55 Yeah, street cleaners.

26:57 And my mom was like also maid, you know, so They were really working hard

27:07 Working class, hard working.

27:08 Yeah, yeah, yeah, they Tough jobs.

27:10 Yeah, really tough jobs.

27:11 I I was not like seeing them a lot

27:14 because they was like get up at 4:00 Long hours

27:20 Yeah, 4:00 and they were coming back at 5:00 So they did not have an easy life.

27:25 No, not at all, but you know what uh what made

27:29 them strong and what uh I will always see them like

27:34 as my heroes is that uh they always like make everything

27:40 to to feel like uh not feel that we needed anything,

27:47 you know, so they were providing everything.

27:50 They were like just giving their life for for us

27:53 to give us a chance to have a better future.

27:56 And uh you know, my dad I remember and uh when we were growing up

28:03 my dad has like only one like condition

28:06 like for us to continue to play football.

28:08 It was to be good at school.

28:11 And to have our degree.

28:13 You know, it was non-negotiable because he was like keep saying

28:17 that we were working so hard for you to to have this chance.

28:23 So you cannot uh you cannot mess it up, you know.

28:28 You have to you have to succeed, you know, in what you decide.

28:33 You have to succeed because you are in France.

28:36 You have the opportunity to study.

28:38 To have food in your plate every day.

28:41 So this is my payback, you know.

28:44 This is the way you have to pay me back to to give me a uh the the pride to say

28:51 that all my kids they they got the the the degrees

28:55 and this is what we we don't, you know?

28:58 Me for me my dad was non-negotiable that for me to playing

29:04 uh you know outside of my city uh without a degree,

29:09 so uh I had to work out to to get to get it

29:14 and once I got it my dad say you can fly my my son.

29:19 So no degree, no football?

29:20 No degree, no football.

29:22 No degree, no football.

29:23 It was like kind of, you know,

29:25 uh deal with us and uh we all accepted it because we

29:30 are uh forever grateful for what they they were doing, you know?

29:34 My my dad I remember it was you know,

29:38 I was um I was looking for a club, you know?

29:43 Uh looking for an academy because uh in my city like um

29:48 I just like play one year and just they they they release me,

29:52 so I was looking for another uh club academy who can uh sign me, you know?

30:00 So I was like just sending CV like maybe 50, 60 to all the clubs.

30:05 How old were you?

30:07 16, 17?

30:08 Yeah, 15 like yeah, 15, 16.

30:11 And uh so I was I was just like sending like CVs like everywhere.

30:17 And uh I remember what time I got a answer

30:22 from a club and the club was uh Sedan in France, like good club, good academy.

30:29 So they were okay to see me on uh on test.

30:35 [snorts] But uh it was so far from from where I live, you know?

30:37 So I have to pay train and also I I couldn't go by myself,

30:42 so my brother has to go with me.

30:45 So, my dad, I remember he had to pay it like uh tickets, you know.

30:50 Train tickets, right?

30:51 Yeah, train tickets.

30:52 to the club?

30:53 To the club, to go there, you know.

30:55 And uh I think for one person, I remember because when I saw the price,

31:00 it was like, you know, stamp in my head.

31:02 It was like 300 euros.

31:05 And my dad, it was like his salary was 1,000 400 per month.

31:12 Per month.

31:13 But he was paying like uh 400 for the rent.

31:17 So, this is So, you know of his salary.

31:19 Um yeah.

31:20 And he had to pay for two people because my brother has to go with me.

31:24 Almost half of his salary.

31:25 For something that maybe would not work out.

31:29 But he was like, "Okay, my my son.

31:33 You want to go?

31:36 I will go and uh I will give you the money.

31:38 I will buy you the the train ticket." And um he paid me that, you know.

31:43 And uh I was feeling so uncomfortable, you know.

31:49 Why?

31:49 Because you know, I have other brothers.

31:53 Yeah.

31:54 Sister, uh they have also dream, you know.

31:57 You felt guilty?

31:59 I was feeling guilty because my dad was like

32:02 this month it was like all in, you know?

32:05 And uh all in maybe it will not work out, you know.

32:09 And he was like kind of giving this confidence like,

32:14 "My son, go." So, we bought the the train tickets.

32:20 We went there.

32:22 And the test was horrible.

32:24 I was like when I arrived there, there was like one coach.

32:31 It was not even like a real test.

32:34 It was like a training.

32:37 Just like you we arrived,

32:38 we we did like 7 hours trains and everything, bus to get there.

32:45 And when we arrived there, okay, what's your name?

32:47 Okay, Mandy, okay.

32:50 Take this shirt.

32:52 Okay, we do warm-up.

32:55 Game.

32:56 Finish.

33:01 And when the game was finished, I was like I was feeling so bad.

33:08 How did you do in the game?

33:11 I I did well.

33:12 To be honest, I did well because, you know, I could I couldn't do bad,

33:17 you know, it's impossible with what my dad did for me.

33:21 It was impossible.

33:22 So, I did really well, you know, but they were kind of To be honest,

33:27 I think they just like took goalkeepers to see players, you know.

33:32 They were looking for strikers,

33:34 they were looking for They were looking for goalkeepers.

33:36 for goalkeepers.

33:37 And this is what I felt when I get when I got there.

33:41 And um when the game was finished, I was I was feeling so bad.

33:45 I was feeling so bad because I was like I betrayed my my dad, you know.

33:50 So, I was in the in the train when we when we came back

33:55 and I was speaking with my brother and it was like That's okay, my my brother.

34:00 You know, we are all with you.

34:03 We believe in you and and it's fine, you know.

34:06 And uh I was like you know, I have the support of my family,

34:10 so I cannot I don't have any choice.

34:15 Any other choice to to make it, you know.

34:19 Not many people have the support of their parents, their siblings.

34:23 Do you credit your success today to those early days

34:28 when they stood by you and no one else did?

34:32 200% without that, I will not be here.

34:34 You will not be sitting here.

34:38 I'm here, here is cuz of my family.

34:40 You know, that's why I'm really like a family guy.

34:45 Cuz this is where I I get my energy, you know.

34:49 And that's reflected with how you treat your wife, your three kids today.

34:55 Yeah, it's the same, you know.

34:57 I'm really like a family guy and the this is where I where I got

35:04 my energy in the early days and this is what I want for my kids,

35:10 for my wife, like to feel that the family is

35:15 the place that where you get the the energy, always.

35:19 Whatever happen outside, when you comes to home,

35:23 this is the place that you know,

35:26 you you you got your boost and you can go back to the Yeah.

35:32 to the ground, you know.

35:33 So, cuz they love you no matter what.

35:35 Yeah.

35:35 They're not going to boo you ever.

35:37 Never ever, you know.

35:38 They will always uh be by my side.

35:41 They will always support me, but they will always be also honest with me.

35:46 Yeah.

35:46 You know, and uh nowadays now Crucial.

35:49 it's not easy to find like people who

35:51 are really like honest with you when No, no.

35:55 when the when it needs you, you know,

35:57 so so yeah, the family is so important for me.

36:01 I will not be here uh if I if I will not be that close with my family,

36:07 if my parents they would not give uh everything they they give to me.

36:14 So, yeah, um I'm always grateful, you know.

36:18 Uh You know, I was in the half, you know, when I learned I come from the half.

36:24 Every minute I have or every opportunity I have to go and see my family,

36:30 my parents because because they get older, so they cannot travel, you know.

36:35 Um I use I use because for me it's really

36:38 important to to use this time to spend with them.

36:43 To spend my time with them.

36:45 Uh Also my kids also to see their grandparents, to see who they are.

36:51 Because uh you know, time goes so fast.

36:54 We don't know what can happen tomorrow.

36:56 And um it's really important to for me

37:01 to make them know that uh their grandparents,

37:04 they are heroes, you know.

37:06 Uh Everything we have today it's credit to them.

37:11 Do you think Edu that you have passed their expectations

37:17 of you as to what your career would look like, your parents?

37:23 Chelsea, 105 games, 49, 50 clean sheets or whatever.

37:28 Ahly, 3 years.

37:29 Mashallah, signed till 28.

37:31 Inshallah, in 28 you sign again.

37:32 Yeah, inshallah.

37:33 again.

37:33 Inshallah, my bro.

37:35 Um Do you think you surpassed what their expectations of you would be?

37:40 And Senegal's starting goalkeeper.

37:44 [laughter] How proud are they of you today?

37:46 It's You know, it's funny because before the AFCON

37:49 final I had this chat with my my dad.

37:52 And it just like came up like this, you know.

37:55 My dad was like uh My son, do you realize uh everything you you done?

38:03 And um you know, it was the first time

38:06 we had this conversation with my dad, you know.

38:09 Just the day before the literally the day before the the final.

38:12 And he was like uh Do you Do you realize uh where you coming from?

38:18 And um all the things you you achieved I said do you realize?

38:25 And I was like uh No, I was a bit emotional because you know my dad you know

38:31 how how the dads you know they are really like straight forward.

38:34 They they are no emotional.

38:37 They are like really cold you know.

38:38 They are straight you straight you know and uh This is like where why

38:46 I am the this guy today you know because of this education you know.

38:50 But you know my dad was really really cold no emotional.

38:54 So to have this uh words I was like uh you know

39:00 very emotional before the the the most important game of my life.

39:05 And uh it was like um I would I would never expect that you know.

39:12 It was like I I knew you will have a big role and you a huge role

39:19 in your life but to accomplish all all

39:25 these things I would not I would never expect that.

39:28 He say I'm And he this is the first time he said to me.

39:32 He say I'm I'm so proud of you.

39:34 This is the moment.

39:35 Yeah.

39:36 I was like wow you know.

39:39 Were you ready for that?

39:40 Never.

39:41 Never.

39:42 Were you ready for your father's words?

39:44 Never.

39:45 Because I know my dad you know he never have

39:47 this uh this kind of talk you know this kind of work.

39:53 That work.

39:53 Could be a boost going into the game?

39:55 Yeah.

39:56 But thanks God it was the day before you know.

39:59 So I had like the night like you know to to just like

40:03 go back to to my focus but if it would if it would be

40:07 the the game day you know to play with this emotion it would have

40:12 been difficult so so yeah it was the the day before the game and yeah,

40:17 he had these words and it was like yeah,

40:20 I would never expect that you you will reach that this level, you know.

40:25 He said like uh you mean a lot for the young

40:31 generation for the the young people but also uh older.

40:38 So, it was like I'm proud of you and uh he told me that uh this year is special

40:45 because there is the there is the the AFCON

40:48 final but there is also the World Cup and he

40:52 was like after that you win the final

40:58 and you achieve all the success with your club he

41:01 said the only the last thing I will ask you is to be great at the the World Cup.

41:12 [snorts] So, you know, I was like wow, you know,

41:15 from my dad it was so unexpected and uh yeah, I was so proud.

41:21 That's your trophy.

41:22 Yeah, that's my trophy.

41:23 That's your trophy, right?

41:24 Yeah, that's my biggest trophy, you know.

41:26 So, these words are my biggest trophy.

41:28 Beautiful.

41:29 I was going to save something for the end

41:30 of the episode but it's just opportunistic right now because

41:35 we have a frame that we made for you

41:37 and it's your early days when you were a kid.

41:40 And then when you're in Saudi, when you won Asia and then when you won AFCON.

41:46 Oh, okay.

41:47 And I mean it kind of just it sums up your life in three

41:51 pictures and I think I think if your father saw this, he'd start tearing.

41:59 Oh.

42:02 Wow.

42:03 Edu right here, young Edu at five five years old, four or five years old?

42:07 With my brother, my little brother who's now my agent.

42:11 Oh, is he?

42:12 He's my agent now.

42:15 he?

42:14 And then over here, obviously with Ali.

42:16 Yeah.

42:17 Three years now with Ali.

42:18 Inshallah, many more years to come.

42:19 And then when you were back home in the parade Yeah.

42:22 in in Senegal with the African trophy.

42:26 I mean just to see those three This is a little thing we're going

42:30 to give you so you can uh hang it up somewhere in your house.

42:33 I'm sure your father sees this.

42:35 He will struggle to keep For sure.

42:38 his eye dry.

42:38 Yeah, for sure.

42:39 Even myself, you know.

42:41 It it it goes.

42:41 I'm going to give it to you before Thank you, my brother.

42:43 Honestly, we are we're so proud of you,

42:45 Ivan, because not only are you a champion,

42:48 but you're a champion um who is very humble, who is very gracious.

42:54 And um And it's and it's it's it's so it's so

43:00 easy to buy into your story and be a fan of yours,

43:03 Edu, because it wasn't too many years ago when you're out of a job.

43:08 When you look back at those times when you were out of a job

43:12 and then all of a sudden you're lifting the UEFA Champions League with Chelsea.

43:18 What kind of conversations do you have

43:19 with yourself as to how life can turn around?

43:23 I know God is great, but but this is another level of fortune and greatness.

43:28 How how How Do you ever pause and digest that?

43:32 To be honest um not really.

43:36 Like you know, I'm How come?

43:40 I'm you know I'm like in a race, you know.

43:46 It's like a kind of race and um in that race where

43:51 I want to achieve like uh as many things as possible, you know.

43:58 I I just want to not lose my my focus, you know.

44:03 And uh I know that if I start like have a seat and just look at, you know,

44:11 where I I came from and like all the things I've achieved

44:17 I'm will maybe lose time or maybe mhm bec- become comfortable, you know.

44:23 Too comfortable.

44:24 to stay hungry.

44:25 Yeah.

44:26 And I want to I want to keep that mindset my mindset, sorry.

44:30 I want to really keep that uh as long as possible.

44:34 that.

44:34 Because uh you know, this is what made me, you know.

44:39 This is what made me,

44:40 this uh this hunger this uh this really like uh uh um spirit this uh um

44:51 mindset and mentality to to really like achieve uh like as many things I I can,

45:00 you know, and uh you know, just like uh leave my marks uh in uh in football,

45:08 you know, so um I really don't want to have this because, you know,

45:15 I really want to keep that focus and keep

45:18 that mindset who who make me successful now,

45:21 you know, so uh I know like what I've what I've done and what I'm doing.

45:29 I know I know it's good, you know.

45:31 I I will not say it's great, but I know it's good.

45:35 But I know that I can achieve again more.

45:40 But for that, I need to keep this mentality to not

45:43 look back and to just like uh looking further, you know.

45:49 I'm not going to tell you what to do because whatever you're doing,

45:51 it's working for you.

45:54 [laughter]

45:54 And and maybe when you retire, we can talk about the Netflix documentary.

45:58 Maybe.

45:59 About your Yeah, maybe.

46:00 Yeah, [laughter] be you can be part of it, eh?

46:02 You know.

46:02 Small part.

46:03 I'll be the voice over.

46:05 Um pressure pressure going into an AFCON final, going into an Asia uh Cup final,

46:15 uh going into the last couple of games

46:17 with Ahly where you know you need those three points,

46:20 going into a game where the night before you're like,

46:25 Edu needs to be 110% because we need to win this.

46:31 And for a goalkeeper, it's a different kind of pressure.

46:35 And I And I played it all of my life, never to the level of what you did.

46:40 The bigger the game the more pressure you feel in your head going

46:44 into it or are you able to take pressure in an in a good way?

46:50 I think yes, with the time I like I kind

46:53 of take like the pressure uh in the good way.

46:57 But um it's more adrenaline pressure, you know?

47:02 Um so, I have to deal with this uh adrenaline because

47:06 on the highest stage you have to deal with this, you know?

47:11 Because there is a lot of expectations.

47:13 Um a lot of uh uh pressure, you know?

47:18 Um by like the um environment, you know?

47:22 And um yeah, I have to with the time um I'm Now,

47:30 for me it's not easier because, you know,

47:33 every game has its uh own reality, you know?

47:35 But um to deal with this adrenaline for me uh now with the experience, you know?

47:43 Because I play a lot of games with uh very, very high pressure, you know?

47:50 And um I know, you know, that uh where I come from my education also helps helps

47:58 me a lot because um you know as I was telling

48:03 you my dad you know very cold very like uh uh

48:09 focus um I'm like him you know and uh you know

48:18 throughout my career you know as you said like there was

48:22 for me a time when I was unemployed without any clubs

48:28 so this time like really really like made me you know

48:33 uh really like made me uh from the ground you know

48:39 hungry like uh it gives me this this anger this uh this uh goal this mentality

48:49 to to really like achieve or to be successful

48:54 and uh that's why you know when I was like

48:58 just started being professional like uh I knew

49:03 that as soon as I will start I will

49:06 have no time like they will not like be for me like time to adapt you know time

49:15 to settle as like as soon as I start I must be good not good I must

49:24 be top like the coach when he make like

49:30 the starting eleven he say we put Edu like

49:34 his first like thought like Edu then the other

49:39 players I wanted to to become and my mindset

49:44 was that be irreplaceable you know be like

49:49 the one who when the coach make the starting 11,

49:54 it doesn't even think about like anyone else.

49:58 You're locked locked in.

49:59 Yeah, locked in.

49:59 [clears throat] So, I knew that I sooner as I will get like an opportunity,

50:07 I will have to take it because they

50:09 [clears throat] will there will be no other shot.

50:11 Because you don't know after this if I will ever get another opportunity again.

50:15 Like when you got on that train for 300 euros and it didn't work out.

50:18 didn't work out.

50:19 And when I was like staying unemployed, when I you know,

50:23 it was the year that my wife got pregnant.

50:27 So, you know, to have like all these things

50:31 and know that uh playing football will be like the key,

50:37 will be like uh the exit, you know, from all the struggle,

50:43 from all the moment of doubt, you know,

50:46 also for my family because as I said to you,

50:49 they were they were supporting they were supporting me no matter what.

50:52 So, it was like the key for me uh to to success.

50:58 So, as soon as I will have a opportunity, I will have to take it.

51:04 And uh I coming back to the uh how can I deal with the pressure,

51:10 is with that, you know, because I I coming from so far, you know.

51:17 So, it's a football game, but uh I made sure that every day I would

51:27 be ready for uh this type of days, you know.

51:31 Every day like I working so hard to get ready for for the the day,

51:38 you know, the day you will you will call me, I will deliver.

51:43 Because I know that is so precious, Yeah.

51:47 you know.

51:47 You take it for granted.

51:49 Yeah, I don't take it anything for grant for for granted

51:52 because it was so hard to get this chance.

51:57 Yeah.

51:58 And once I got it, I know where I come

52:01 from and I don't want to to coming back there.

52:04 Go back.

52:04 You know, I don't want to go back.

52:06 Absolutely.

52:06 So It's kind of like how I feel with podcasting.

52:09 Yeah, and you did good.

52:11 I don't want to go back to Jeddah Industrial City in the oil and gas sector.

52:17 [laughter] I I absolutely get it.

52:17 You will not.

52:18 Did you think Edu that um when when you didn't have a job,

52:21 did you did you believe that one day things will turn around for the better?

52:27 I was praying for.

52:28 I was praying for and I was I was working for, you know?

52:34 I didn't like just pray and wait for for this opportun- opportunity coming.

52:41 I was just like, "Okay, make sure you you're ready,

52:45 you know?" When I was unemployed,

52:48 I was training with uh Le Havre, the the club of my city.

52:54 And uh it's a crazy story.

52:58 I was training with the academy like for the with the B team.

53:04 And uh you know, cuz I I didn't have any contract, anything.

53:10 So, they accepted to to take me back for training,

53:14 but with no contract, so with no salary.

53:19 So, I had just to take it like, "Okay,

53:22 like you have the opportunity [clears throat] to train,

53:24 to play with good players, so go until you have an opportunity with another

53:29 club." But um cuz I had no contract,

53:34 I couldn't change in the dressing room with the other players.

53:39 Wow.

53:39 So, I was literally in a other dressing room, referees.

53:46 So, every day I was going myself with my back in this uh dressing room.

53:52 I didn't know you have to be under contract to be

53:54 able to change in the room with all your teammates.

53:56 Because it's like kind of insurance, you know,

53:58 if something happened there with uh um with you

54:01 and you don't have any insurance like to cover.

54:04 For the club, it can be a trouble, you know.

54:06 Okay.

54:07 So, I had to be outside.

54:10 Even the gym, I couldn't go in the gym.

54:14 So, it was literally like they they were knocking

54:18 the door when it was time to go in outside.

54:21 And yeah, like uh let's get like some some shoot, you know.

54:26 I was literally like for that, just like saving balls, but it was okay for me.

54:31 I needed that and uh I knew that uh like this I

54:36 will stay active and uh I will like still improving, you know,

54:40 because I'm still I'm playing with good players and um and it's funny because,

54:47 you know, when I was there, Riyad was there.

54:51 Mahrez?

54:52 Yeah.

54:53 Riyad was there, but he was with the pro.

54:55 Oh, wow.

54:55 The A team, you know.

54:57 He was with the A team.

54:59 So, we were kind of like seeing each other, you know,

55:02 just like uh go when he was just like sometimes he

55:06 was going back with the B team just for the games.

55:10 But he was with the pro and me I

55:12 was with the B team with no contract, no salary.

55:16 And uh when you see like where where we are now,

55:20 we we we spoke about this sometimes and it's crazy, you know.

55:23 In a million years, you never thought

55:25 that starting off in France for Le Havre, Yeah.

55:29 you guys would end up playing in Jeddah, Saudi Playing in Jeddah, Saudi.

55:33 Winning the AFC for Al-Ahli.

55:36 [snorts] Yeah.

55:37 Life is it's it's crazy how things can come around full circle, huh?

55:42 It's crazy, yeah.

55:43 Um so that was the first team that you represented on a professional level?

55:50 Not even because I didn't sign my contract.

55:53 You didn't even sign the contract?

55:54 No, they were just taking me for training.

55:57 So, I stayed like this 1 year.

56:00 Okay.

56:01 So, 1 year only training, going by myself,

56:04 changing in the referee uh dressing room,

56:08 and just like get ready like to go and uh

56:11 and do like uh some shots with the the players.

56:14 So, so yeah, it was uh a full year like uh a full year like this, only training.

56:24 You know, with without like the the joy of playing a a competition.

56:31 It was not that easy, but uh you know,

56:33 it it also made me uh as strong as I am now.

56:38 And uh you know, sometimes when uh when

56:41 the things uh it's getting difficult or harder here,

56:46 you know, I always look back and I said like uh you know,

56:50 there will always be a there will always be a a way

56:54 to to overcome because uh I come from uh so far, you know.

56:58 Yeah.

56:59 And then Chelsea came knocking.

57:01 Yeah.

57:02 When they came knocking, uh how did uh how did that opportunity come to you?

57:09 Uh that opportunity came with uh uh Petr Čech,

57:13 obviously, that you you know, the legend of uh Chelsea.

57:16 Yeah.

57:17 And uh also the the goalkeeper, so so legend, Christophe Lollichon.

57:22 Um you know, Christophe Lollichon was um at Rennes

57:28 with uh Petr before Petr moved to Chelsea.

57:33 So, he always had like a great relationship with the clubs.

57:37 Always like have a look on what's like happening there.

57:45 And I had a talk with him and I asked him like

57:49 uh since how long like he he just like follow me, you know.

57:55 And he told me he's following me since my first professional game.

58:02 With Chahine Chahine No, not Chahine Reims.

58:05 Even before?

58:08 Reims.

58:07 Reims was my first professional game cuz Reims was in the second division.

58:12 Okay.

58:12 Okay.

58:12 So, for the story, my first professional game was I

58:18 was just signing my first contract and I was second goalkeeper.

58:23 So, me I was really happy, you know, because first contract professional.

58:29 Now I'm in the professional level, second goalkeeper,

58:32 so I'm I'm not far, you know.

58:35 I get there, you know.

58:36 And uh so we played the first game of the season.

58:41 And uh the goalkeeper coach, Christophe Lollichon,

58:46 is like pundit for this game, you know.

58:51 So, um the game started.

58:56 After 5 minutes, the goalkeeper of my team he got a red card.

59:02 That was rough.

59:03 the first game of the season,

59:05 the first game I was sitting on the bench of professional level.

59:09 And he got red card.

59:10 How how long into the game?

59:12 Early?

59:12 5 minutes.

59:13 5 minutes?

59:14 Literally 5 minutes.

59:15 We we we sat and like there was like two

59:18 situation and then the striker like one v one and yeah, he hit the the strikers.

59:27 Straight red.

59:27 Straight red.

59:28 And then the And then the coach looked at you?

59:30 Everybody was like And me, you know, I was You weren't even properly warmed.

59:36 I I always ready, you know.

59:39 You know, I always ready because this is like who I am, you know.

59:43 But to have an opportunity to play so early like that early,

59:48 I was oh oh, wow, you know.

59:51 And everybody was like Okay, dude, let's go.

59:56 All eyes on you.

59:57 All eyes on me, you know.

59:58 And I was like, wow.

1:00:00 Like first game and now it's on me, you know.

1:00:04 So, we play one man down for the full game,

1:00:09 you know, because it was only 5 minutes.

1:00:11 And I remember I I made eight saves.

1:00:16 Do you know?

1:00:16 Eight saves.

1:00:18 And uh we we got one point.

1:00:21 We we draw, you know, 1-1.

1:00:23 And uh I didn't even concede by the opponent.

1:00:26 It was own goal.

1:00:26 So, it was a shame, but I had a really really great game, you know.

1:00:31 And eight challenging saves?

1:00:34 Yeah, like really like 1 v 1.

1:00:36 All right.

1:00:36 Okay.

1:00:37 1 like and and the goalkeeper coach was like commentating the the game.

1:00:44 He was like, wow.

1:00:46 And he said like after that game I called Petr Cech and I said

1:00:51 like there was a goalkeeper that we need to we need to to check.

1:00:55 We need to watch.

1:00:56 After that game?

1:00:57 After that game, they've just followed me for literally 4 years.

1:01:02 Wow.

1:01:04 4 years.

1:01:06 And I remember when they calling me, it was in March,

1:01:12 you know, the it was the the year when the covid covid happened.

1:01:17 2020 March 2020.

1:01:19 Exactly.

1:01:20 So, they called me and they said like uh "Okay, dude.

1:01:25 We going to go for a goalkeeper.

1:01:28 And uh it will be you." I was like, "Wow.

1:01:35 Really?

1:01:35 Like He was like, "Yeah.

1:01:38 Um now it's the COVID.

1:01:41 [clears throat] So wait.

1:01:41 So he said, "Now it's the COVID.

1:01:43 So let's the the COVID like time um finish

1:01:48 and it and then uh you will be the first move.

1:01:51 We will go for you." To be honest, when he said that, I was like,

1:01:56 "Okay." But I I couldn't even trust him, you know?

1:02:00 So I was in March.

1:02:01 I was like doing very great uh at uh Ren.

1:02:07 So I I got like uh a lot of interest from clubs.

1:02:11 But clubs like Chelsea.

1:02:14 Me at 27 years old.

1:02:17 With no experience of uh Champions League and everything.

1:02:21 I was like, "Okay, like he's joking.

1:02:23 Like I'm I'm just a part of the list.

1:02:26 Or maybe 10 goalkeepers and just he just like want to give

1:02:31 me the feeling that I would be the one, you know?

1:02:33 So I was okay, okay, no problem." And then April May June So June,

1:02:45 they made the restart in England.

1:02:47 In France, we didn't uh restart.

1:02:50 They stopped the league.

1:02:52 So we finished third for the first time of the history of the club.

1:02:55 The club like went to Champions League.

1:02:58 And Chelsea in Premier League, they made the restart.

1:03:01 So he called me back.

1:03:03 So he told me like now they will do the restart.

1:03:08 As soon as the the league is done we go for you.

1:03:12 So keep it for you now.

1:03:15 But soon you will have to speak with your club.

1:03:18 I was like uh okay, no problem.

1:03:21 Not take it seriously, you know, because I was like okay,

1:03:24 like he's done that with five other goalkeepers, so You didn't believe

1:03:28 Yeah, never mind, you know.

1:03:29 Yeah.

1:03:29 And uh August We arrive in August now.

1:03:36 2020?

1:03:37 Yeah.

1:03:38 And you call me.

1:03:39 And you say like okay, we have the green light from Marina,

1:03:44 who was the head of football in Chelsea.

1:03:46 So we're going to move for you, Edu.

1:03:49 So he said now you need to speak to your club and say you want to leave.

1:03:56 Chelsea said we want you.

1:03:59 Chelsea like they will go after that me speak

1:04:05 with my club and say like I want to leave.

1:04:07 So now you have to have the conversation with Ren.

1:04:09 Ren, because I've signed five years and after one year I was like okay, ciao.

1:04:15 And yeah, so for for for me it was like wow, you know, it can really happen.

1:04:23 So I went to Ren speaking with the sport director and the president.

1:04:28 It was a no way.

1:04:30 They say don't even think about that.

1:04:33 We love you too much.

1:04:35 You know what I was when I was telling you that w- when I

1:04:40 go somewhere I want like to be like the first that the coach take,

1:04:44 but it happened in Ren.

1:04:46 So in Ren, they they were really like you know, counting on me.

1:04:51 I was like really like big part of the the project.

1:04:55 And I was feeling really good there, you know.

1:04:58 If it was not Chelsea, I would not move there.

1:05:01 It was the right place, right club, good people, good vision.

1:05:05 Big opportunity.

1:05:06 Big opportunity.

1:05:07 Yeah.

1:05:08 So Chelsea is Chelsea.

1:05:10 Any uh Europa League action with Ren?

1:05:14 Only one, like five games.

1:05:17 Yeah, five games.

1:05:18 I play only five games.

1:05:20 Before that, no games.

1:05:22 For people who don't know,

1:05:22 Champions League is is the top top tier of European football,

1:05:25 then you have Europa League.

1:05:27 So, this was a huge opportunity for Edu to go to Chelsea,

1:05:30 so he can play in the Champions League,

1:05:31 which is the elite of the elite of the elite competition.

1:05:35 Competition, yeah.

1:05:36 And then, September 2020, went to Chelsea.

1:05:40 Chelsea, but before that, with my club,

1:05:43 I really had to to try with them, you know?

1:05:48 Because it was really unexpected for them,

1:05:51 cuz I was like really like a big part of the the project.

1:05:56 And for for the first time of my life, you know, I really had to to go hard,

1:06:05 you know, with with my club, you know,

1:06:07 because I've seen so many players had good opportunities,

1:06:13 but because they wanted to Unfortunately, it's the game,

1:06:17 but because they didn't want to to go in the clash with the club,

1:06:23 they just kind of respect the club decision, and then they don't go, you know.

1:06:29 But sometimes it's the opportunity of your life.

1:06:33 Of course.

1:06:34 This type of clubs cannot happens like every year, you know?

1:06:40 No.

1:06:40 There is like so many things like to to take like consideration,

1:06:47 that when it happens, you have to fight for it.

1:06:50 Yeah, it's here this year.

1:06:50 It might not be here three months from now.

1:06:53 Thank you.

1:06:53 So, so then how did it How did you eventually part ways with Ren?

1:06:57 Like, how difficult was that?

1:07:01 Nobody knows about it, huh?

1:07:02 You know, you're the first one, huh?

1:07:04 As hard as the AFCON final?

1:07:07 Even more.

1:07:10 [laughter]

1:07:10 Even more, trust me.

1:07:11 Oh god.

1:07:12 Because I knew that it would be like the step

1:07:15 will like change my my life and my career,

1:07:17 so check Rennes at the beginning they were asking 50 million.

1:07:24 They were asking 50 million.

1:07:26 Because and also you have to see also

1:07:30 club side and after like reflection I was like,

1:07:34 "Okay." Because they were like, "Okay,

1:07:36 they buy they bought Kepa for more than 80 million." I said,

1:07:42 "Now with the statistics,

1:07:44 you are one of the best keeper on Europe." So, you have 4 years contract left.

1:07:50 We want 50.

1:07:52 And I said, "This is impossible.

1:07:54 Me I know the enveloped was 15 million for me." 15?

1:07:59 15 15 [clears throat] 15 like non-negotiable because I had 27 years old.

1:08:05 And they they spend already a lot on Kepa.

1:08:09 So, they didn't want to spend a lot on another the goalkeeper.

1:08:14 Which you can understand, you know.

1:08:16 So, from 50 I had to fight myself like to go down from 50 to to 30.

1:08:25 Mhm.

1:08:26 So, I had a lot of meetings, a lot of clash.

1:08:31 You know, uh with uh the president uh Unfortunately passed away,

1:08:40 but uh really good guy.

1:08:42 But you know it was like defense of interest,

1:08:45 so they were like defending the club, I was defending myself.

1:08:50 Mhm.

1:08:50 And uh around 30 million we were like, "Okay." I said to the coach "Coach,

1:08:59 I'm sorry, but now is the chance of my life.

1:09:05 I will take it.

1:09:06 So, I respect you.

1:09:09 You know I love the team, but I will not play anymore.

1:09:16 And the coach was like the coach was

1:09:19 in the in a tricky situation because he he understood me,

1:09:24 but also he has the pressure of the result,

1:09:28 you know, and he has to play with his best team.

1:09:31 So, he was like in between,

1:09:34 but at the end he said do me I will respect the the fact that you want to leave,

1:09:40 but you have to to be online with the with the the direction.

1:09:46 So, I was like, "Okay." So, from 30 go down to 25.

1:09:55 So, Chelsea in that time from 15 non-negotiable.

1:10:01 They were really wanted me, so they pushed.

1:10:04 So, from 15 to 20.

1:10:06 20 plus add-on, you know.

1:10:10 Uh which represent like 25.

1:10:14 The bonus, it's funny.

1:10:15 The bonus was 5 millions if we won the Champions League.

1:10:20 So, I was speaking with the president And you did.

1:10:23 Imagine.

1:10:25 So, I was speaking with the president and the president

1:10:27 like told me uh "Okay, so we have a deal.

1:10:31 You can go." So, I took my stuff and I said, "Okay,

1:10:35 I leave." And then the head of football, Marina, called my agent.

1:10:41 She said like deal off.

1:10:43 Why?

1:10:44 I was like, "Why?" She said like they wanted to add 2 millions,

1:10:49 so we don't sign the player.

1:10:52 [snorts] She said deal off.

1:10:54 So, you know what I did?

1:10:57 I just left my stuff.

1:10:59 I said to my wife, "Drop me at the club." She dropped me at the club.

1:11:05 I took all my stuff.

1:11:07 Like the I remember the goalkeeper coach said, "What you are doing?" I said,

1:11:12 "No, leave me alone." I took all my stuff.

1:11:15 I put on the on my car.

1:11:18 I said to them, "You will never see me

1:11:21 again." "You will never see me again." And then,

1:11:25 I went into the car and I said, "No,

1:11:29 I will not leave it like this." I went to the president offices.

1:11:33 Nobody knows about that.

1:11:36 I went to the president offices.

1:11:38 Um there was like uh his [snorts] assistant.

1:11:42 I said like, "Is he uh upstairs?" She said, "Yeah, yeah,

1:11:44 but she's in a meeting." I said, "No, don't worry." I went there.

1:11:50 I didn't knock the door.

1:11:52 I just like open.

1:11:53 And I closed behind me.

1:11:56 I closed behind me and uh he said, "What are you doing?" I said, "No, president.

1:12:02 We had the deal.

1:12:04 You you wanted to have 2 million.

1:12:06 Now the deal is off." And he said,

1:12:09 "Yeah, but uh this is my negotiation." I said,

1:12:11 "No." I said, "How come?" I said, "We had the deal.

1:12:15 You have to respect the deal." So, I said,

1:12:18 "Now, until you don't call her and say, 'Let's make the deal.' We don't leave

1:12:26 the the office." And he was like, "You crazy." Wow, you did that, huh?

1:12:32 Yeah, because I know that if I would not

1:12:34 do that, I would just leave my chance, you know?

1:12:38 Opportunity's gone.

1:12:40 So, I said I I knew that I would have to take this and make this, you know?

1:12:45 So, we were in the offices.

1:12:47 We stayed 2 hours.

1:12:50 2 hours watching like this.

1:12:52 Until?

1:12:53 until he say, "Yeah, you can go." I I gave him so much so much

1:13:00 That's crazy.

1:13:01 arguments that he could not say no.

1:13:04 That's crazy.

1:13:04 But for 2 hours, we were fighting.

1:13:07 We were sitting like this.

1:13:10 And from his position like this, he ended up like this.

1:13:16 He just giving up, you know?

1:13:18 This is an insane story.

1:13:20 knows about it except my agent, Ousmane, of course, and my family.

1:13:27 So, we finish like this.

1:13:31 He said like, words by words like he was

1:13:35 saying like she she knew what she was doing.

1:13:40 And I said, "But this is not my this is not my business.

1:13:45 You give him you give her the green light.

1:13:49 Let's make it, you know?

1:13:50 It's the chance of my life.

1:13:51 I have to take it." And you know what's was funny?

1:13:55 It was "Let me fight for this bonus because you was more than 20.

1:14:03 And I was like, "Maybe,

1:14:06 but this is the price and you will you

1:14:09 you you will have to accept it because me,

1:14:12 I will not play anymore for Rennes if you don't accept this." Mhm.

1:14:18 I said, "I love the club.

1:14:20 I I could finish my career here, but Chelsea came up.

1:14:24 Mhm.

1:14:25 It's the chance of my life.

1:14:26 You have to accept it." Yeah.

1:14:28 And he was like, "But let me let me get this bonus." I said, "This is finished.

1:14:33 They will not put money anymore.

1:14:36 So, take it.

1:14:38 Take it because I I told him next year,

1:14:40 you even 1 million, you're not going to sell me.

1:14:44 So, take it.

1:14:45 And everybody will be happy because Rennes they bought me for 3 million.

1:14:51 What a deal for them.

1:14:52 It 8 months later, they have an offer 20 plus five.

1:14:56 Seven seven times the money.

1:14:58 Come on.

1:14:58 So he has to take it.

1:14:59 Good business.

1:15:00 Yeah.

1:15:00 So he said like uh but you worth more than that.

1:15:06 He say we going to lose it.

1:15:08 He say imagine you win the Champions League.

1:15:10 And I was like, "No, not this year.

1:15:13 This club needs some times before winning the Champions League." And I remember,

1:15:17 you know, when I signed, when I when I won the Champions League, [snorts]

1:15:23 Which was year one in Chelsea.

1:15:25 Year one.

1:15:26 Literally like 9 months later.

1:15:28 He messaged me.

1:15:29 He say, "What did I say?

1:15:33 [laughter]

1:15:33 You worth more than that." So it was like the the the end of the story,

1:15:39 but you know, when I when I left this office,

1:15:42 I was like with no energy, you know.

1:15:46 I gave everything in this meeting.

1:15:47 Yeah, I'm sure.

1:15:48 You were drained.

1:15:49 I was with my wife and I was like this in the car.

1:15:52 I was like uh I I will not sign for sure.

1:15:56 And my agent called me and he was screaming.

1:16:00 He was like "What did you do?" So me I was thinking like I closed the door.

1:16:06 Maybe he say like I kidnapped him or you know, I was like thinking about that.

1:16:10 So he say like, "What did you do?" I said, "Nothing." You know?

1:16:15 [laughter] He was like "No, what did you do?

1:16:19 Tell me." I was like, "Yeah, I just met the president.

1:16:23 We have a chat." He say,

1:16:25 "But what did you say?" I was like uh I knew what I said,

1:16:30 you know, but I was not No, we we had a chat.

1:16:34 I told him that I want to leave.

1:16:36 "Why?" He say, "Yeah,

1:16:38 because Chelsea they called me back." "You can travel." They make the deal.

1:16:46 And at that point it was confirmed.

1:16:48 It was confirmed.

1:16:49 So, I was like you know,

1:16:51 after Alhamdulillah It was like 6 weeks, 7 weeks of negotiation.

1:16:58 And I remember the first time I spoke

1:17:02 to Marina she told me because she was very straightforward,

1:17:07 you know, she's like an elite in the business.

1:17:10 And she said to me and I was like kind of pressure, I remember.

1:17:14 She said like [snorts] you you sign because of Peter and Frank.

1:17:21 Mhm.

1:17:22 I said, "If it was me it took too long, you will not sign." Mhm.

1:17:27 So, you can thanks to them.

1:17:30 You know.

1:17:30 I can see now why you said that that moment

1:17:32 in your life was tougher than the AFCON final.

1:17:34 You understand?

1:17:35 Which was the craziest game anyone's ever seen.

1:17:37 But this is was the crazy moment.

1:17:39 Thanks for sharing that.

1:17:40 Do Do people know about this story?

1:17:41 Nobody knows.

1:17:43 Is the first time.

1:17:44 Well, thanks for sharing it to be here.

1:17:46 Wow, the stuff we don't know of what players go through behind closed doors.

1:17:51 Yeah.

1:17:52 This is the [clears throat] type of Bravo for putting your foot down.

1:17:55 If you didn't, God knows I will not I will not be here.

1:17:59 You would not be a Champions League winner.

1:18:01 Uh for sure, 100%.

1:18:02 Maybe you wouldn't have then gone on to Ahly, you know.

1:18:05 I will not be here, 100%.

1:18:07 I think the lesson in this is know your worth.

1:18:10 Yeah.

1:18:10 And if you want something, go after it.

1:18:12 You need to You need to go after it.

1:18:14 You need to fight for it.

1:18:17 Yeah.

1:18:16 Yeah, this is this is your your father's doing.

1:18:19 Yeah.

1:18:20 Yeah.

1:18:20 Yeah, you know that.

1:18:22 You know that.

1:18:22 Uh Premier League how tough is that league to play in?

1:18:27 It's so tough.

1:18:28 It's the best league in the world.

1:18:30 Like in Premier League [clears throat] there is no there's no easy game.

1:18:38 No.

1:18:39 I I'm just, you know, sometimes I'm thinking about You know,

1:18:44 in in in life with all my respect, you know,

1:18:48 but sometimes you play games and it happens that straight away

1:18:54 you feel that it's going to be easier than usual, you know.

1:18:58 But in Premier League I I barely remember that I had this feeling.

1:19:05 All the games they are difficult.

1:19:07 You can go and play against the the last team in the league, it will be tough.

1:19:12 Yeah.

1:19:13 It will be tough.

1:19:14 The level is so is so high.

1:19:19 No No days No days off.

1:19:22 days off, you know, and the the difficulty with the when you play

1:19:28 at Chelsea is like you have the Champions League but you have the league.

1:19:32 So, every 3 days is like kind of Champions League game.

1:19:37 Yeah.

1:19:37 And people they don't realize, you know,

1:19:40 but in Champions in Premier League the level of the teams is so high

1:19:46 that if you don't have like a group of 30 players you cannot succeed.

1:19:54 You can see that uh some teams with their good

1:19:59 group but short in terms of numbers they cannot succeed.

1:20:05 Because you need to have like the squad depth

1:20:09 to to be ready throughout the season, you know.

1:20:14 And uh I remember the the first year at Chelsea and the second year

1:20:19 at Chelsea the second year was problematic because we had a lot of injuries.

1:20:25 The first year in terms of numbers, we were good.

1:20:29 But the second year we were a bit short because the coach wanted a tiny group.

1:20:37 But once we got like injuries it was impossible to to deal

1:20:43 with the rhythm and the the intensity of the the Premier League, you know.

1:20:48 But yeah, for for me it's the best team best league in the in the world.

1:20:53 You have the best teams in the world.

1:20:57 The atmosphere it's also crazy, you know, for for us.

1:21:03 And you know, people they people they used to to make this mistake.

1:21:08 They think like the biggest atmosphere it's like in the stadium like Arsenal,

1:21:13 like Tottenham, like, you know United, this type The big 60,000 plus.

1:21:19 No, no, no.

1:21:21 [clears throat]

1:21:21 Trust me.

1:21:21 It's not.

1:21:22 Anfield, Stamford Bridge.

1:21:23 Anfield, Stamford Bridge.

1:21:25 Stamford Bridge um when the result are there like the atmosphere is crazy crazy.

1:21:32 Um

1:21:34 [snorts] St.

1:21:34 James' Park.

1:21:36 Yeah.

1:21:36 Um Everton stadium, of course.

1:21:40 Of course.

1:21:41 Crazy atmosphere.

1:21:42 Now they change the stadium, so I spoke with the players.

1:21:44 They told me it's a bit different.

1:21:47 But Leeds as well.

1:21:49 Elland Road.

1:21:50 Yeah.

1:21:50 These stadiums Nice.

1:21:52 purely football.

1:21:54 For me there's nothing like walking down Fulham Road on a sunny day.

1:21:57 Yeah.

1:21:58 you get there and you hear the do do do do do do do do do Chelsea [laughter]

1:22:06 That's my memory.

1:22:08 Uh lifting the trophy that was like a made-it moment for you,

1:22:13 Champions League trophy with the Chelsea.

1:22:16 When you when you lifted that up did your life flash before your eyes?

1:22:20 Yeah.

1:22:20 You know, when you were speaking about flashback about like

1:22:24 looking back it was the only moment I I've done it.

1:22:28 Because for me it was Really.

1:22:31 It was so good.

1:22:32 You know, it was this feeling.

1:22:36 You know, it was the first major trophy I won.

1:22:41 And I was like just I was at I was at the stadium with my mom and my wife.

1:22:47 And I remember like uh like hug hug them just after the game

1:22:56 and I was like just flashback about when when I was struggling,

1:23:01 when I was like without clubs.

1:23:04 And from there to go to see just you know, even to see the trophy.

1:23:11 I didn't want to watch the trophy.

1:23:13 You know, when when you're going to the pitch I didn't want I didn't want

1:23:18 to look at it because for me 3 years ago it was on the PlayStation.

1:23:24 Not even 3 years ago, 2 years ago.

1:23:26 It was something that I would never thought that I would

1:23:30 I would be at this to to got it, you know.

1:23:34 You work for that.

1:23:36 But it it depends on so many things like to be

1:23:43 from behind the TV to you know touch the trophy.

1:23:49 So, for me it was a it was the only moment I looked back and I was like okay,

1:23:56 like what you what you're doing or what you did.

1:23:59 It's amazing because it was like just simply crazy just also

1:24:06 thinking about how did I fight to to to leave Ren

1:24:12 to to have the chance to be in Chelsea in this club

1:24:17 be in a position that I can win this trophy.

1:24:19 So, it was it was like really a crazy moment, crazy feeling.

1:24:25 You know what the day you said luck, you know what the definition of luck is?

1:24:28 When preparation meets opportunity.

1:24:31 Thank you.

1:24:31 You prepared all your life.

1:24:33 Yeah.

1:24:33 And you got your opportunity.

1:24:35 You know when I when I when when I speak about luck like sometimes people

1:24:41 they they think like it's just like you

1:24:43 sitting and you you wait for the opportunity, but but it's not, you know.

1:24:49 You need to to get ready to to have this opportunity.

1:24:54 You know, you need to create this opportunity.

1:24:56 And uh with the time, you know, I experienced that and I and I had

1:25:04 the this chance to live this uh this moment because

1:25:12 I worked so hard to to get there

1:25:15 and I never take this moment for granted, you know.

1:25:20 So, every time it's a perpetual, you know,

1:25:24 uh like a reset and uh also opportunity to to to learn on yourself, you know.

1:25:35 And uh and every time I won a trophy I okay like celebrate,

1:25:42 enjoy, but also like take it as okay.

1:25:47 You have this feeling, you want to feel it again.

1:25:50 How do you do?

1:25:51 Keep the hunger.

1:25:52 Yes.

1:25:53 Yeah.

1:25:53 You're reminding me of one of my favorite basketball players, Allen Iverson.

1:25:58 He says I used to go out on the court and play every game like it's my last.

1:26:04 You strike me as somebody that goes out onto the football

1:26:06 pitch and and you play every game like it's your last.

1:26:09 Every training.

1:26:11 Every training.

1:26:12 Some people sometimes they they think I'm crazy, you know.

1:26:15 Every training like it's your last.

1:26:17 Every training.

1:26:18 You know, if I lose a game at training, you you cannot talk to me.

1:26:25 You can't You cannot talk to me.

1:26:26 You're hard on yourself.

1:26:27 Yeah.

1:26:29 This is my mentality.

1:26:32 This is what also I try to share with young younger players and also other

1:26:38 players because sometimes sometimes you have this uh

1:26:45 You You have You think sometimes that's okay.

1:26:48 Like a training, you can go okay.

1:26:52 And in the game, you switch on.

1:26:55 Some players they can do it.

1:26:56 Some players, but we talk about 1%.

1:27:01 99% they have to train well to play well.

1:27:06 Yeah.

1:27:07 And for me, I'm like this, you know.

1:27:10 That's why I don't like to miss one

1:27:13 training because one training it's opportunity to improve.

1:27:17 It's opportunity to to be better than yesterday, you know.

1:27:22 So, when I train, when I go uh outside and I train, every game,

1:27:30 if I if I win, I'm not going to be the the happiest guy, you know.

1:27:35 I will be like, "Okay, uh job done." But if I lose,

1:27:40 yeah, sometimes you have to wait 1 day before talking to me.

1:27:46 Tell me what it was like putting the Ahli jersey on for the first time.

1:27:50 One of Asia's biggest team, really passionate fan base.

1:27:55 When you won AFCON, in my eyes, you're you're forever the champion of AFCON.

1:28:01 You came back to Jeddah and behind the goal, they had a big picture of you.

1:28:07 How do you What was it like representing Ahli, playing in front of these fans?

1:28:14 You know, I I I when I when I when I have like this banner,

1:28:19 you know, I received it so many message from other players.

1:28:27 Other players who's watching, who's playing with me national team,

1:28:30 or used to play with me in my previous club.

1:28:34 They were like, "Your fans are the best." They were like,

1:28:41 "The level of respect uh they give to you,

1:28:46 it's unmatched, you know." And you know,

1:28:50 I I didn't I didn't even know about that.

1:28:53 I didn't even know they were doing that.

1:28:56 So, I was like, you know, me always focus on the game.

1:28:59 And Ebo told me, "Edu, uh just check." And I was like,

1:29:07 "Wow." While you're on the pitch?

1:29:09 Yeah.

1:29:09 He was like, "Look." I was He was like, "Look,

1:29:11 you can see there's some pictures." He was like, "Look." And I just turned.

1:29:15 And I was like, It's a moment.

1:29:19 You know, I was like, "Okay.

1:29:21 You're not ready, but stay focused on the game,

1:29:24 because it's a very important game we need to win.

1:29:27 Don't be out too much emotional.

1:29:29 But appreciate, you know.

1:29:31 Appreciate because this is real like the love they show you, you know.

1:29:38 The real love that they uh they have for you, for the work you done,

1:29:44 the work you do, and for the not only the player,

1:29:48 but also the man you are, you know.

1:29:51 Mhm.

1:29:51 So, for me, it was like it means really like a lot to me,

1:29:56 and for also my family, it was really like a emotional moment.

1:30:02 And I will uh I will always remember that, you know,

1:30:05 because is not too many people,

1:30:10 too many players Al-Ahli players who can say like they have

1:30:15 the chance to have this type of uh recognition, you know.

1:30:19 What do you wish fans understood more about what players go through?

1:30:24 I know Al-Ahli fans are patient, passionate,

1:30:28 very supportive when you're playing on the road out outside of Jeddah,

1:30:31 you know, they're there.

1:30:33 No no no one's going to take that away from them.

1:30:35 Um is there a part of [snorts] what you go through

1:30:39 or what players go through that you wish fans in general understood more?

1:30:48 To be honest, um I have to speak about the Al-Ahli fans.

1:30:57 Uh these fans they went like and you know, they went through so many relegation.

1:31:07 Relegation.

1:31:08 Before you came?

1:31:08 Yeah.

1:31:09 You know, so some season uh with no uh success.

1:31:16 Um but you know, even if the club like struggling if the club like is

1:31:27 in a position where like everything like feel

1:31:30 like unbalanced or like not stable, you know?

1:31:34 The only thing um will remain always will be the fans.

1:31:41 Fans.

1:31:43 These fans they not love the club, they are the club.

1:31:50 They are the club, you know?

1:31:52 And uh I've seen it since I'm here so many times.

1:31:58 They show up.

1:31:59 They show up every time.

1:32:01 I will give you an example.

1:32:03 Cuz we have to talk about it.

1:32:05 But when uh when there was like the situation

1:32:11 with the coach and uh there was like

1:32:17 uh instability and also uh the future not not

1:32:23 clear for the team and for the the staff.

1:32:27 They just like short They they just like for the sake of the club

1:32:35 they just like show up and on the on the highest level, you know.

1:32:43 Mhm.

1:32:43 We [clears throat] talk about something as that's

1:32:46 like take it like a million times.

1:32:50 Million times.

1:32:51 People they were telling me like what's happened with the with your fans?

1:32:56 And I was like how?

1:32:58 They show they are, you know.

1:33:01 [laughter] They're just showing up.

1:33:02 You know, Western Saudi Arabia is known for crazy fans.

1:33:04 Yes.

1:33:05 [snorts] That's why when Saudi plays the national team

1:33:07 they they try to put the games in in Jeddah.

1:33:08 In Jeddah.

1:33:09 Because they know you know They know Saheli.

1:33:12 It's another player.

1:33:13 Ittihad fans, those two teams are the probably the two

1:33:17 I will say the two strongest fan bases in Saudi.

1:33:20 I'm going to say it.

1:33:21 Is it?

1:33:21 We have the the first one.

1:33:24 I will agree.

1:33:25 We have the first one, but Honestly, yeah.

1:33:27 Nothing like that uh They they they just like You know,

1:33:30 their club is everything for them and they

1:33:32 will protect the club at all cost, you know.

1:33:37 And 12th man, I told the your coach uh are they 12th man?

1:33:43 He's like absolutely.

1:33:44 Yeah.

1:33:46 It makes I can give you like a list like

1:33:51 this of games who just like get on our side cuz of them.

1:33:59 Like a list like this, really.

1:34:01 Like a team who's leading 1-0 against us.

1:34:06 They push, they push, we score.

1:34:08 And then the opponents their legs, they're shaky.

1:34:14 Really, like they're shaking.

1:34:16 They cannot even control the ball now.

1:34:17 For 5 minutes, they are like, you know, when you get like a bunch.

1:34:21 They are like dizzy, like the atmosphere, they cannot handle it.

1:34:26 And they since I'm at the club so many times, like they play their role.

1:34:35 They we we had so many nights, crazy nights because of them.

1:34:44 [sighs] I think like uh the the the craziest

1:34:48 one is the the Champions League final, you know.

1:34:52 The Champions League final was something else.

1:34:54 Like the Champions League final is in my top top three of games.

1:35:00 Really?

1:35:00 Yeah, top three.

1:35:01 And I'm not even put the Champions League final with Chelsea.

1:35:07 The Champions League final in Jeddah with our fans is in my top three of games.

1:35:14 Easily.

1:35:15 The first one is the AFCON.

1:35:18 The AFCON.

1:35:19 The second one AFCON.

1:35:23 The third one is the Champions AFC Champions League in Jeddah.

1:35:28 [clears throat] Last May.

1:35:29 The level of adrenaline and you know it's my club.

1:35:34 I only felt this when I play with my national team.

1:35:42 Lifting the trophy.

1:35:44 Did it have a different taste to UEFA Champions League?

1:35:48 Which one was harder to work for, to sweat for.

1:35:54 UEFA Champions League or AFC Champions League?

1:35:59 [snorts]

1:35:59 To be honest, it's like I cannot compare it because

1:36:06 uh those games happen at different time in my life.

1:36:11 Okay.

1:36:11 You know?

1:36:12 So, as I told you, the Champions League it

1:36:16 happened in a time that I came from nowhere.

1:36:20 And in 9 months, I got the Champions League.

1:36:23 Mhm.

1:36:23 So, [snorts]

1:36:25 if I think about that, like it's more the way I got it than uh the atmosphere.

1:36:37 But with the with uh Al Ahly, it's both,

1:36:42 the combination of the atmosphere and the way we got the trophy, you know?

1:36:50 Mhm.

1:36:49 It was a crazy year when un- certain moment uh like

1:36:57 the coach was uh 9 toes out and as I told you,

1:37:02 the the fans, they play their role, you know?

1:37:07 And people they don't realize, but from that point, we won the Champions League.

1:37:12 Yeah.

1:37:14 I might imagine like if like the fans, they would let they would let it go.

1:37:20 New manager, new vision in the in in a year,

1:37:26 in a crucial moment where like is the moment where you win things.

1:37:33 And they stopped everything, you know?

1:37:37 They stopped everything and for the the sake of the club,

1:37:41 they knew that the best thing was to still have this coach,

1:37:48 this stuff, and this way of uh play of football, you know.

1:37:55 The system.

1:37:56 The system.

1:37:57 Mhm.

1:37:57 So, at the end this this this this this make

1:38:02 us champions in Some people they don't realize,

1:38:04 but me sometimes I'm sitting and I'm like it's it's the the moment,

1:38:11 the point the season has changed.

1:38:13 And I go even further,

1:38:16 it's the moment of where like the club situations change, you know?

1:38:23 Now, since we won another trophy we competing for the league,

1:38:29 we competing for the Champions League again.

1:38:31 Uh so, you know, now the club is on is on a moment that you know, we are there.

1:38:39 And we did it in a short time, you know.

1:38:43 What about the league?

1:38:44 Was the league more competitive than you thought before you came?

1:38:49 The league yes.

1:38:52 More competitive, but even even if I know I realize that the league

1:38:59 is more competitive even within 3 years it became again Even more competitive.

1:39:06 More competitive than when you came in 2020?

1:39:09 No, it's so hard.

1:39:09 2022.

1:39:11 But I speak with other play other players from other teams.

1:39:15 It's so hard.

1:39:16 It's so hard, you know?

1:39:18 Like really like you have like a group of teams who's like fighting.

1:39:25 And you can see now on the league the two last years there was like one team

1:39:30 Yeah.

1:39:30 ahead.

1:39:31 Now there's four.

1:39:32 Now four teams competing.

1:39:34 Yeah.

1:39:35 Yeah.

1:39:36 Never happened like uh It hasn't, you're right.

1:39:38 Yeah, it's great for the neutral.

1:39:39 It's it's so good, you know?

1:39:41 Now, like I speaking with my uh teammates in national team.

1:39:46 They are like every weekend we watching

1:39:48 we watching the the the Saudi Pro League.

1:39:51 We're almost at the stage, I feel,

1:39:53 like in in in the Premier League where the last two

1:39:58 can give the first two a problem on any given weekend.

1:40:02 Yeah.

1:40:02 It's not going to be 5-0 easily.

1:40:04 No, no, no, no, no.

1:40:06 2-1.

1:40:07 No, 2-1.

1:40:07 Like this team Riyadh for example Riyadh, we we we draw 1-1 at home.

1:40:17 And there we won 1-0.

1:40:20 And it was a piece.

1:40:21 Damac say that it's not because we are playing bad.

1:40:26 It's because These guys are good, too.

1:40:29 on a certain level.

1:40:29 Yeah.

1:40:30 They have budgets, they're spending.

1:40:31 They're spending.

1:40:32 They have a good system.

1:40:33 They I face some players that I was facing when I was in Premier League,

1:40:38 when I was in France.

1:40:40 Also, the Saudi players.

1:40:42 Mhm.

1:40:43 You know?

1:40:44 They delivered the level they are improving.

1:40:46 You know?

1:40:47 Me, I remember when I arrive in Al

1:40:51 Ahli there was only one player in national team.

1:40:55 Really?

1:40:56 There was one player.

1:40:57 Three years ago, one player.

1:41:00 Rayan.

1:41:00 I'm not talking about Firat because Firat was already

1:41:03 Gomis.

1:41:03 Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

1:41:05 top players, by the way.

1:41:06 He is top players.

1:41:08 Beast.

1:41:08 Yeah, beast.

1:41:09 For me, best Saudi striker.

1:41:12 And um from there now we got like six to seven players

1:41:19 in national Look at that and and in in under three years.

1:41:22 You imagine?

1:41:24 Six to seven players, so means 25% of the team,

1:41:29 30% of the team is coming from Al Ahli.

1:41:31 Mhm.

1:41:32 That's a That's a That's a really strong stat.

1:41:36 It shows like how good the club has improved and improving and where

1:41:43 like the goal where where the club wants to go, you know.

1:41:46 Mhm.

1:41:46 The direction.

1:41:47 Yeah.

1:41:48 What about you, Edu?

1:41:49 Is there a part of your game that you have

1:41:55 been focusing on improving in the last couple of years?

1:41:58 I know about your strengths.

1:41:59 I don't want to ask you what are your weaknesses.

1:42:01 No, I want to ask you, is there a part of your game that you're focusing

1:42:04 on personally that I want to master this part of my game.

1:42:11 You know, some You know, I have this question a lot, you know,

1:42:18 sometimes when I speak with the people they are like like okay,

1:42:22 like where do you want to improve?

1:42:26 What where do you think are you your weaknesses?

1:42:29 Like but as I told you, like for me every training is an opportunity.

1:42:35 Like really like when you see me when I

1:42:38 go out for training like some people sometimes they

1:42:41 don't want to even play with me because they

1:42:43 know that today they want to have like easy sessions,

1:42:47 but they know if they play with me I will push.

1:42:50 You know, because I want to win.

1:42:52 And um every training for me and um

1:42:57 with my goalkeeper coach is an opportunity to work on everything.

1:43:03 Everything.

1:43:04 100% every training session.

1:43:06 100% 100% I don't go I don't like to go out with like okay,

1:43:16 just like do the warm up 2 minutes or just do this.

1:43:20 No, if I if I go out, I go 100%.

1:43:23 There's a word for that in English.

1:43:24 It's called mediocrity.

1:43:27 Medium.

1:43:28 Medium.

1:43:29 Being mediocre is something that will stop

1:43:34 you from achieving the level of excellence.

1:43:36 Yeah.

1:43:37 Say no to mediocrity.

1:43:38 I love that.

1:43:39 If you're fit, ready to go, you give it 100% like it's your last.

1:43:44 Yeah, like it's my last.

1:43:45 And sometimes, you know, [snorts]

1:43:48 it's it's a good thing, but sometimes it's also a bad thing because,

1:43:54 you know, sometimes you need also to listen your body, you know.

1:43:59 Of course.

1:44:00 You do listen your body and when you when

1:44:03 you are someone who wants to go every time 100%,

1:44:06 sometimes you don't listen your body.

1:44:08 Mhm.

1:44:09 And uh if I I if I have to say like

1:44:14 where I have to improve is on is on that, you know,

1:44:17 because even at Chelsea, I had this, you know, when I was injured.

1:44:23 And you know, your coach staff to give you

1:44:27 the feeling that we need you, you have to play.

1:44:30 And you think that you can still help them.

1:44:34 But when you do that, you you don't help the team,

1:44:37 you don't help yourself, you know.

1:44:38 And this is the the I would say like uh uh

1:44:46 I would say the place I I need to to to improve,

1:44:50 you know, because every time she wants to help,

1:44:53 sometimes she don't listen your body and you know,

1:44:56 sometimes yeah it's not good for yourself,

1:44:58 so it starts from the good uh You're in a good place, yeah.

1:45:03 good place, but you know, you need to at the end think about that and you know,

1:45:08 I'm getting older, so I need to really like uh consider that, you know.

1:45:12 But uh other than that, you know, I know that uh I don't cheat.

1:45:18 Uh every time I go on the pitch, I give everything.

1:45:22 Um the guy next to me, I want him to feel that I will put my neck uh uh

1:45:30 where like some people they won't they won't even put their foot, you know?

1:45:34 And yeah, this is the way I am.

1:45:37 And that's why the fans love you,

1:45:39 and that's why you're captain at the and that's why

1:45:45 you are an intimidating person when a striker sees you.

1:45:51 Because you don't cheat the game.

1:45:54 And uh and the result is everything you've

1:45:58 been through and everything that you've achieved so far.

1:46:01 Thank you.

1:46:01 Um something that maybe not a lot of people know about,

1:46:04 but I did a bit of research and I found that you opened a schools [snorts]

1:46:08 back home.

1:46:09 Yeah.

1:46:09 Uh so you have some philanthropic work uh that that you've put out there.

1:46:15 What made you want to give back to the community

1:46:18 and and and give those to, you know,

1:46:20 give give back to those who didn't have the opportunity that you did.

1:46:27 [snorts] Um I think it comes with my education uh from where I from, you know?

1:46:32 Um as I told you where um I was

1:46:36 living and there was a large community uh Senegalese community.

1:46:41 So we used to have this uh this uh culture, you know?

1:46:47 Uh the Senegalese culture is really like uh um sharing Yeah.

1:46:55 like uh togetherness uh even if you have this, you give this.

1:47:02 Um Generous.

1:47:04 Yeah, when you give, you don't give like to to to have it back.

1:47:09 You give really because it comes from your heart,

1:47:11 and uh you just want to to help uh the people, you know?

1:47:16 So it comes from where I from, but um um most uh from my education, you know.

1:47:25 Um this is a the way I've been raised by by my parents.

1:47:31 And um this is uh the way I want to to raise uh my kids, you know,

1:47:37 because uh um if you have the if you have the chance

1:47:41 to to to have a certain uh situation uh you need

1:47:49 to to do as much as you can to put uh um

1:47:56 as as more people as you can uh Help them give back.

1:48:01 Yeah, in this situation because um I feel uh um grateful, you know.

1:48:09 For me I have a privilege, you know.

1:48:13 And uh I know that um my parents back in the day

1:48:18 uh they went to France to give us the chance.

1:48:25 Yeah.

1:48:24 You know.

1:48:25 To to have a uh a work,

1:48:29 to have like a career to to be uh educated and uh today I feel like um a man

1:48:42 I feel like uh I am the person that I wanted to be cuz of that, you know.

1:48:49 Mhm.

1:48:48 And I know that is so important.

1:48:51 And to be in the in this position that I can give back

1:48:54 to the community for me it's a must must do it, you know.

1:48:59 And um that's why uh I'm um I'm with the Yaka association.

1:49:08 Um we opened the school.

1:49:11 Uh now the school uh can have uh more than uh 120 kids, you know?

1:49:20 And it's an academic school, just so people know.

1:49:22 It's not a football school.

1:49:24 It's a school school.

1:49:25 School school.

1:49:26 Yeah, mathematics, science, everything, you know?

1:49:29 Yeah, football.

1:49:30 It's uh You know, football, it's one thing,

1:49:37 but but to learn and to to to be educated, you know?

1:49:44 It's another thing here.

1:49:46 And for me, the most important, like my dad say, you know?

1:49:51 Uh you need to have your degree or you need to be

1:49:54 in the position that you can do uh good things, you know?

1:49:59 And for me, it was really important to to make it because the youth generation,

1:50:08 they are the future, you know?

1:50:09 They are.

1:50:10 And we need to give them the tools, you know?

1:50:14 Uh for them to contribute to the to the world and also to I speak for Senegal,

1:50:23 but for for my country to have a better country, you know?

1:50:28 Mhm.

1:50:28 And uh on my level, you know, I'm trying to to give that opportunity,

1:50:35 but this is something that uh I do like uh with my whole,

1:50:40 you know, because you know that if I do something, I give I give everything.

1:50:47 Mhm.

1:50:46 So, I have my people with me who help me a a lot.

1:50:51 But yeah, you know, now you have also another another scoop.

1:50:57 But um now near near to the school, uh just down, we going to make um a stadium.

1:51:07 Yeah, a multi multi-sport stadiums where the kids um

1:51:12 when they finish the school and when they have like,

1:51:16 uh, sports they can go and do, uh, uh, the sports news, the facilities there.

1:51:21 Yeah, use the facilities.

1:51:22 That's amazing.

1:51:23 I love that.

1:51:24 Uh, I mean, my next question is,

1:51:25 of all your achievements, which one are you most proud of?

1:51:29 This has to be at the top.

1:51:32 Giving back like that.

1:51:33 Yeah.

1:51:34 Yeah, for me, you know, when I was like when, um, when I was back there,

1:51:39 uh, last year uh, for the opening um,

1:51:44 you know, you do everything uh, by distance.

1:51:47 So, I'm checking everything.

1:51:49 I'm speaking with the guys.

1:51:51 So, I'm following like step by step.

1:51:54 But when you far when you see the things you you got like this distance.

1:52:01 So, you're happy.

1:52:03 But you you know you cannot be that emotional because you far.

1:52:08 You don't see the things and everything.

1:52:11 But, uh, when I got there for the opening and, uh, I saw all these kids No.

1:52:20 [gasps]

1:52:20 It hits you much hits different.

1:52:21 Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

1:52:23 true.

1:52:23 I couldn't No trophies, no nothing.

1:52:25 No, no, no, no, no.

1:52:26 This is like just I was like, uh, impact.

1:52:30 And when you see these kids saying like

1:52:34 just thank you it's like melt your heart.

1:52:37 Yeah, it kills me.

1:52:39 It kills me.

1:52:41 It was so this moment since I play football it's the moment,

1:52:49 uh, I was so the most like thankful like to to to have everything that I have

1:52:58 because those things happens because of my situation.

1:53:04 So, I I so grateful to to be able to live this moment

1:53:09 and and to to share and to give back to the the community.

1:53:14 By the way, it's proven in in psychology, in life,

1:53:18 in giving back, giving is one of the best sensations,

1:53:23 feelings because it's no longer about you, to put a smile and to change the try

1:53:28 to change the trajectory of someone's life Mhm.

1:53:31 to give them an opportunity to succeed.

1:53:34 Can't beat that.

1:53:35 Yeah.

1:53:36 You cannot beat that.

1:53:37 You cannot You cannot.

1:53:37 Amazing initiative, honestly.

1:53:39 And So proud of you for that.

1:53:40 No, thank you.

1:53:40 We appreciate it.

1:53:41 Yeah.

1:53:42 Yeah, absolutely.

1:53:45 [snorts] Um A message for Ahly fans around the world.

1:53:53 [snorts] [sighs and gasps] It can be a long message.

1:53:56 [laughter] You know that, huh?

1:53:57 But uh since since the the first day um they

1:54:04 they gave me a so much uh confidence, you know?

1:54:07 They gave me so much uh love and uh the only thing like uh I

1:54:16 wanted to do since the first day it's to to give them back, you know?

1:54:21 To give to give them back and to make them feel like some or to make

1:54:28 them live some situation that they they

1:54:32 still uh as in like experience, you know?

1:54:36 Like the Champions League, you know?

1:54:39 This is my uh mindset and this is why um every day when I go training,

1:54:47 I go hard I go hard because I know if I go hard, I will I will be ready.

1:54:54 I will I will be on on the best level possible and to be

1:55:02 in the position to give them the opportunity to be proud of myself,

1:55:08 of the team, and uh to be like a fun was successful, you know.

1:55:15 Um When I started was not easy, you know, because it was a lot of change for me.

1:55:23 Uh I was not playing at Chelsea anymore.

1:55:26 I had two issue with my knee.

1:55:29 So, it was a lot of things and um the three,

1:55:33 four first games uh I was not great at all, but at all, you know.

1:55:39 And uh Games, not practice.

1:55:41 Yeah.

1:55:42 Training.

1:55:42 Games.

1:55:43 You know, games.

1:55:44 So, you know, when this type of period happens or times,

1:55:51 you you just need to to go back to the bottom,

1:55:55 you know, and to go back to the basics, which is working at training, you know.

1:56:01 And uh So, I was working really hard just to like

1:56:07 be back on my level and make these people proud,

1:56:09 you know, because even though I was not good,

1:56:14 they were not happy because obviously I came from Chelsea Mhm.

1:56:20 with all my achievements, so they expect a certain level.

1:56:26 [snorts] But they were patient, you know.

1:56:29 And they were like giving me like the feeling that they are with me.

1:56:35 And when you have this feeling, You'll go to war for them.

1:56:40 You go to war for them.

1:56:41 You go to war for them.

1:56:42 And what they did what they did to me, it happened to all the players.

1:56:49 All the players in the club, it happens.

1:56:52 Some players they had like some tough moments,

1:56:57 but they always overcome because you have the support of the fans.

1:57:00 Always, they are behind you no matter what, you know?

1:57:04 Even sometimes if they are not happy,

1:57:06 they will they will never be like on you without any reason.

1:57:10 If they are on you, it's because at certain point,

1:57:16 you are not where you should be, you know?

1:57:19 Expectations.

1:57:20 Expectations.

1:57:20 You don't match the expectations.

1:57:24 And they are here for that because they want they want the best for the club.

1:57:30 And they want the best for me.

1:57:31 Mhm.

1:57:32 But, you can always and you will always feel the support and 100%

1:57:40 of the time because it happens to not only me, you know?

1:57:44 It happens to other players.

1:57:45 I've seen that.

1:57:46 Every player has gone through slumps.

1:57:48 know?

1:57:48 But, 100% of the players in the club Yeah.

1:57:54 Look at the the way the team perform now, you know?

1:57:58 If you are this level, it's because everybody is perform.

1:58:01 Mhm.

1:58:02 And because everybody feels loved and support.

1:58:06 Do you feel today that the fans know who the real Edu is?

1:58:10 The guy that doesn't cheat the game,

1:58:11 the guy that's going to give it 100% no matter what.

1:58:16 Do you think the fans today know you for who you really are?

1:58:22 I think I I think I think they they know.

1:58:26 I think they don't know everything about me, but I think I think they know.

1:58:35 And um I think this is why also they they feel they feel

1:58:42 proud to be to be represented by me like as a captain, you know?

1:58:51 So, I think I think yeah, they they they they kind of understand.

1:58:58 Which is all we really want in life, right?

1:58:59 We want people to know who we really are.

1:59:01 Yeah.

1:59:02 Those who want to understand us.

1:59:04 Yeah.

1:59:05 And those who don't, I don't care about you.

1:59:07 But if you really want to get to know me, know who I really am.

1:59:10 Yeah.

1:59:11 But what we are doing today will help.

1:59:14 I think so.

1:59:14 I think so.

1:59:15 I think so.

1:59:17 Um anything missing in your life today?

1:59:22 No, [snorts] today, you know, um I'm grateful for everything, you know.

1:59:29 I I came from so far, you know, that is like um I'm living a dream,

1:59:39 but I a dream that I fight every day for, you know.

1:59:43 So, I love that.

1:59:45 And no, I'm I'm just grateful, you know.

1:59:48 Uh I have my family.

1:59:49 My family is happy.

1:59:51 My kids, they are happy.

1:59:53 My parents, they are proud of me.

1:59:56 I can help people around me to have a better situation.

2:00:01 Mhm.

2:00:02 I can help um the young players uh to be uh to be better in in their life,

2:00:16 in what they are choosing, because I've been through a lot of things.

2:00:21 I don't want them to be uh in the same situation.

2:00:25 So, today, I try to make them understand that where they are,

2:00:31 they are it's a privilege.

2:00:34 But they need they need to work to keep this privilege,

2:00:37 you know, because nothing in their life is granted.

2:00:40 Got to earn it.

2:00:40 Especially in the in sports, you know.

2:00:43 So, they have to fight every time,

2:00:45 because the reality of today is not going to be the same tomorrow.

2:00:51 But, what you do between this day, it's on you.

2:00:54 Absolutely.

2:00:55 You know, so yeah, I'm grateful for all the things, you know,

2:01:00 and uh I will never stop like helping like people, because uh this is who I am.

2:01:07 And uh this is my education, and uh this is what make me proud.

2:01:14 Pressure of family, pressure of the game, pressure of life.

2:01:19 What do you do to get away from it all when you need a break?

2:01:23 Do you have like a place where you can go to de-stress?

2:01:28 [laughter] Where's your secret spot in Jeddah so I so I can find you?

2:01:31 I will give you the the address.

2:01:33 You [laughter] can meet me there.

2:01:34 We can meet there.

2:01:35 How do you de-stress and get away from all of uh the pressures of life?

2:01:40 Uh to be honest, um my place in uh in Senegal helps me a a lot, you know.

2:01:51 When I go there, for example, when I when I went there after the AFCON,

2:01:57 uh it it it was perfect, you know.

2:02:00 It was just 2 days to just like calm down.

2:02:05 I do but the fans are maybe crazier than the fans we have in Saudi.

2:02:11 Yeah, but the parade, I've never seen anything like it.

2:02:14 Yeah, it was crazy.

2:02:15 It looked like Yeah, it was crazy.

2:02:17 And [snorts] you know,

2:02:19 this parade was even crazier than the first one because of the scenario.

2:02:24 I was worried about you and the teammates.

2:02:26 [laughter] But, it was well well organized this time.

2:02:32 The first one, it was freestyle, you know.

2:02:34 We didn't have the bus for the parade.

2:02:36 So, we went just on the roof.

2:02:38 So, every time the bus was like stopping,

2:02:41 we were like But now this time it was well organized.

2:02:45 We had like a way to to go and so

2:02:48 it was a better but you know my place in Senegal?

2:02:53 It's not in the city.

2:02:54 It's like uh outside.

2:02:55 Yeah, outside.

2:02:57 So it's really like and the people around

2:02:59 they really respect uh my place where I live.

2:03:04 So they don't they don't bother me.

2:03:07 They don't go and stay in front of my house.

2:03:11 They're really respectful.

2:03:12 They know it's your house and they give you your privacy.

2:03:14 and they give me my privacy.

2:03:16 That's nice.

2:03:16 Yeah, yeah.

2:03:17 Uh yeah, to be honest it's it helps a lot and uh yeah, my family.

2:03:23 You know my family uh they are really helpful, you know?

2:03:28 Now I went to as I told you I was in the I saw my parents.

2:03:33 Gives me a the energy I needed for for this end of the season.

2:03:40 So yeah, my family, my circle and uh yeah, my house.

2:03:46 I will invite you you will understand.

2:03:47 That's very kind of you.

2:03:48 Thank you so much.

2:03:50 Okay, so we're going to wrap up with these um quick questions.

2:03:54 We we call it the IWC rapid fire questions.

2:03:58 This time we did something different where uh I

2:04:00 posted something online and we got questions from the fans.

2:04:04 Okay.

2:04:05 Okay.

2:04:06 Good question.

2:04:06 Great questions actually.

2:04:07 I don't have any question of mine here.

2:04:10 Okay.

2:04:10 Um and literally it could be one word,

2:04:13 it could be two words, however you want to react to it.

2:04:17 Uh please do in the very honest way that you have

2:04:20 been in this episode which I've been loving by the way.

2:04:24 Thank you for everything that you put into this episode.

2:04:27 Question number one.

2:04:29 What's one habit that people don't see that you credit for your success?

2:04:36 Um, same routine.

2:04:38 Routine?

2:04:40 Gym.

2:04:42 Beach.

2:04:43 Uh, recovery.

2:04:45 The consistency.

2:04:46 Yeah.

2:04:46 Huh?

2:04:46 Consistency.

2:04:48 Who was your goalkeeping idol growing up?

2:04:52 [sighs and gasps] Oof.

2:04:54 I had so much, but uh, so many.

2:04:56 Uh, but um, Buffon.

2:05:02 Buffon?

2:05:02 Yeah.

2:05:03 Gianluigi Buffon?

2:05:04 Yeah, Gianluigi Buffon.

2:05:06 For like the the the the story.

2:05:08 Um, you know, I was big fan of him, you know, but like crazy fan.

2:05:13 It's amazing.

2:05:14 And he was playing in Paris.

2:05:17 And me when I was at Reims, we were playing against Paris.

2:05:22 It was the last game of the season.

2:05:23 And it was his last game in Paris.

2:05:26 So, we play against him.

2:05:28 And because he loves football, so he watch it.

2:05:32 So, he congratulate me for my season.

2:05:35 It was my first one in in first division, and I did well, you know.

2:05:40 And they congratulate me, so I was like, "Whoa,

2:05:42 you know, you see where I am." That's crazy.

2:05:49 Yeah.

2:05:48 And um, so I I ask him for the shirt uh, at the end of the game.

2:05:53 He say, "Okay, no problem." We went in the dressing room.

2:05:58 So, he say like, "I will give you I go in the dressing room,

2:06:02 I give you a mine." So, I give him uh, my shirt.

2:06:06 He went.

2:06:08 And um, he gave it to someone from the club.

2:06:13 I don't remember who it was, like team manager or something like this.

2:06:17 And this guy, he kept it.

2:06:20 From you?

2:06:21 He kept it from you?

2:06:22 He kept it.

2:06:22 He didn't give it Didn't give it to you?

2:06:24 He didn't give it to And it was meant for you?

2:06:25 Yeah.

2:06:26 So, you know, I didn't want to make a big deal,

2:06:29 you You I didn't want to make because he was saying,

2:06:31 "No, it's not for you, but I knew it was for me, you know.

2:06:35 So, I just like let it go.

2:06:37 But, uh I was like, you know,

2:06:39 sad really because I don't ask for so many shirts, you know.

2:06:44 I've been playing against like the best players, Neymar, like Mbappé,

2:06:47 like but the shirts that I wanted the most

2:06:52 like someone like took it took it away, you know, so I was a bit mad.

2:06:57 And 3 years later I was playing with one player who was playing with uh Buffon.

2:07:05 Um in uh in Italy.

2:07:09 Um so, I talking to I talking to him and uh I said like,

2:07:14 "Please ask him um his shirt.

2:07:18 I really want him.

2:07:19 Uh please like speak with it." And uh he spoke to him.

2:07:26 And he said like Buffon he remember me.

2:07:31 He's like uh so happy because now I was at Chelsea.

2:07:35 He say he's so happy.

2:07:36 He remembered you.

2:07:37 Yeah, the way I developed.

2:07:39 Amazing.

2:07:39 And he say he will send me a shirt.

2:07:42 And I remember we were at the AFCON.

2:07:46 It was the day I was like uh I won the FIFA The Best Goalkeeper.

2:07:54 It's literally that day the guy give me the shirt of uh Buffon.

2:08:00 So, imagine the same day I got the shirt.

2:08:04 And I won FIFA The Best.

2:08:07 It was the best day of my life.

2:08:09 [laughter] Oh, wow.

2:08:10 What a story.

2:08:11 career, it was the best day.

2:08:12 Yeah, yeah, for And a great idol to choose.

2:08:16 Yeah.

2:08:16 Honestly.

2:08:16 Yeah, yeah, Buffon was He is something special.

2:08:18 So special.

2:08:19 Could be the greatest of all time in in that position.

2:08:22 Honestly, he's uh Yeah, easy.

2:08:24 Yes, easily.

2:08:25 So special.

2:08:26 He had a big heart.

2:08:27 He wasn't the tallest.

2:08:28 He wasn't the muscliest.

2:08:30 He wasn't maybe not the fastest or the most athletic, but he had a big heart.

2:08:35 Big heart, yeah.

2:08:36 You know, like intimidates the striker.

2:08:38 Aura.

2:08:39 Aura.

2:08:39 Aura, thank you.

2:08:41 Also captain of yeah.

2:08:43 He's like the type of goalkeeper who can

2:08:45 make a save just by standing by, you know.

2:08:49 This guy like he's just standing.

2:08:51 He's standing.

2:08:52 You don't know where to put the ball.

2:08:53 He's probably maybe I'll we'll fact check it 6 ft only.

2:08:57 He's a bit taller, I think.

2:08:59 Taller than that?

2:08:59 Yeah, a bit taller.

2:09:00 But he's not like Yeah, he's not like a mountain, you know.

2:09:04 like Petr Cech or yourself or you know But man,

2:09:08 he had a career and a half at Juventus and Italy.

2:09:12 Incredible.

2:09:13 All right.

2:09:14 Favorite save that you've ever made of all time.

2:09:17 Does one come to mind?

2:09:22 The top left.

2:09:25 Full stretch.

2:09:25 [snorts] He had some good ones with Al Ahly, mashallah.

2:09:28 Really good ones.

2:09:30 You know that you know the the most important one with Al Ahly?

2:09:34 The Champions League final.

2:09:36 Left side.

2:09:37 Yeah, I know which one.

2:09:38 The Champions League final.

2:09:39 Yeah.

2:09:39 You know, this this save like so many people they

2:09:45 were thinking like uh the guy just shooting outside, you know.

2:09:51 But me, in this final, you know,

2:09:53 when I was preparing the game I knew I will just have to deal with one.

2:09:59 I knew.

2:10:00 And I have to be there.

2:10:03 If if I'm there we are champions.

2:10:06 I I I knew it.

2:10:08 You know, sometimes in football you have feelings, you know,

2:10:11 when you like visualize the game you know the scenario, you know.

2:10:17 And I knew it would be like this.

2:10:19 I will have only one because we play at home with the atmosphere,

2:10:25 with the way we play.

2:10:27 They will only have one.

2:10:28 Mhm.

2:10:29 And I have to be there.

2:10:31 So, when I saved Before the game, you visualized.

2:10:34 game, I visualized.

2:10:34 You know, I do this every time.

2:10:37 So, when I saved the ball, I don't, you know, celebrate or But, this time,

2:10:46 if you watch again, I was celebrating because I knew it was the one.

2:10:50 And I knew we would be champion.

2:10:53 That's what happened.

2:10:55 Yeah, yes.

2:10:56 It did, yes.

2:10:57 Incredible.

2:10:58 Crazy, eh?

2:10:59 Why number 16?

2:11:03 Number 16, it's um back in the day when I was at Cherbourg.

2:11:09 Um First professional club?

2:11:11 Yeah, it was my first shirt with my name.

2:11:16 I swear when I the first game I finished, I was at home.

2:11:21 I was looking the the shirt like the whole night.

2:11:25 It was like Mendy, and um the the um the number one was taken.

2:11:32 30.

2:11:33 So, 16 was the last opportunity, so I said I take it.

2:11:37 And um you know, I just like kept it because uh since day one, it's my number.

2:11:44 Sentimental.

2:11:45 Yeah, yeah.

2:11:47 I don't like leave it.

2:11:49 You're very true to yourself.

2:11:50 I love that.

2:11:51 You're very true to your past,

2:11:53 and you don't as you I love what you said earlier,

2:11:56 that you don't cheat the game.

2:11:58 You started with this, you're going to stick with it.

2:11:59 You're very loyal.

2:12:00 Yeah.

2:12:01 Masha'Allah.

2:12:02 I am, yes.

2:12:03 Favorite movie?

2:12:07 Favorite movie?

2:12:11 I have I have two.

2:12:12 I have to say two.

2:12:13 I have to say two because there is one with my kids,

2:12:16 and there is one uh for myself.

2:12:19 Nice.

2:12:19 Tell me them both.

2:12:20 So, for with my kids is uh Black Panther.

2:12:24 Black Panther.

2:12:25 Excellent.

2:12:26 kids they they love that, you know.

2:12:29 We watching, you know, so many times and it's always the same feeling, you know.

2:12:33 So good.

2:12:34 So, yeah, with my kids it's uh yeah, it's Black Panther.

2:12:39 And um and uh [snorts] for myself I would say There is so many.

2:12:51 Like There is so many with one one actor, like Denzel.

2:12:57 Aw, thank you.

2:13:00 [laughter] Thank you.

2:13:00 Thank you.

2:13:01 He's my favorite, too.

2:13:02 He's the best.

2:13:03 He's incredible.

2:13:04 Like I I can't pick one, you know.

2:13:07 Like all these movies is like best He always put best performance.

2:13:13 Yeah.

2:13:14 Yeah.

2:13:14 Yeah.

2:13:14 Yeah.

2:13:14 You You like How How does he do like to game after game, you know?

2:13:21 Different scenario.

2:13:22 Like he just take you, you know?

2:13:27 You just like follow.

2:13:29 He's He's too good.

2:13:31 Someone else that doesn't cheat Yeah.

2:13:33 his you know, line of work, his craft.

2:13:36 Yeah.

2:13:37 You know, sometimes I'm I'm scrolling on the the the the the social

2:13:41 media like some quotes that he say then is very powerful, you know?

2:13:47 When he speak is so powerful.

2:13:49 Very.

2:13:50 Very.

2:13:50 Very.

2:13:51 Actually before this episode uh I saw something uh said by Denzel.

2:13:59 And I was like, you know what?

2:13:59 I'm going to I'm going to throw it at Edu's way.

2:14:01 And I took a screenshot.

2:14:02 have to.

2:14:03 Took a screenshot, I swear.

2:14:05 You can't even like like you can't even I'm doing that every day.

2:14:08 With him it's crazy.

2:14:10 People should never forget who helped you in hard times,

2:14:13 who abandoned you in hard times, and who put you in hard times.

2:14:18 She said, "Wow.

2:14:20 Which one do I think about first?" Crazy.

2:14:22 Yeah, some one of his favorite one of his famous quotes.

2:14:26 Who's louder, Chelsea or Ahly fans?

2:14:29 No, Ahly fans.

2:14:31 Yeah.

2:14:32 Ahly fans.

2:14:33 SPL Yes.

2:14:35 gets a point there.

2:14:36 Um Even the Chelsea fans, they are saying that our fans are louder.

2:14:41 Yes.

2:14:42 But when Jewel had a packed for 60 plus thousand people,

2:14:45 it gets very, very loud.

2:14:48 So yeah.

2:14:48 Yeah.

2:14:49 You know.

2:14:49 There's nothing like an Ahly Ittihad derby.

2:14:51 No, to be honest, when I bring like some people because you know,

2:14:56 when you go to the stadium, it's kind of experience.

2:15:00 Yeah.

2:15:00 When you're coming from Europe and you have the chance to go,

2:15:05 it's like really it's an experience.

2:15:07 Yeah.

2:15:07 Like I never seen like someone that I invited and saying like, "Okay,

2:15:12 it was okay." All [snorts] the people,

2:15:14 they are just 80 90 minutes, they're just like taking videos.

2:15:18 And when they finish, they're like, "What is this?" Wow.

2:15:21 Yeah.

2:15:22 Yeah.

2:15:23 Yeah.

2:15:23 Yeah.

2:15:23 So every time I bring someone,

2:15:25 like it it makes me proud, you know, because I'm like,

2:15:28 "Okay, I'm I'm in the right place,

2:15:30 you know." And uh those people who's coming from Europe,

2:15:35 when they go back to Europe, they are saying,

2:15:39 "What you are think about Saudi Pro League is is not

2:15:43 the reality." You got to go see what what's happening in the league.

2:15:46 is, you know.

2:15:46 So it's really nice, you know,

2:15:49 to have also people like I've seen like Rio Ferdinand is coming,

2:15:53 he's doing most of the work.

2:15:54 of work with them, yeah.

2:15:55 Yeah.

2:15:56 And it's easier for us to have like this type of voice to to give

2:16:02 a a good appreciation of what the Saudi Pro League is, you know.

2:16:07 Yeah.

2:16:07 Yeah.

2:16:07 I love Rio.

2:16:08 He's very authentic.

2:16:09 Yeah, top.

2:16:10 Rio just he speaks what's in his heart.

2:16:12 Top, you know.

2:16:12 Good good guy.

2:16:15 A new rule you'd like to see in the game?

2:16:19 I heard in the World Cup they're

2:16:20 going to have 10-second throw-ins and goal kicks.

2:16:23 Yes.

2:16:23 Yes.

2:16:24 I don't know if that's confirmed or not.

2:16:25 of Arsenal.

2:16:26 Is it really?

2:16:26 [laughter] It's because of Arsenal.

2:16:29 Every time they every time they they they have

2:16:32 the set pieces like a penalty shoot out, you know.

2:16:36 Everybody Everybody like goes they just like it took a towel

2:16:41 they just [laughter] clean the ball and like they they do it.

2:16:45 forever.

2:16:45 Yeah, so That'll be a good rule to to introduce to keep the pace.

2:16:49 very good rule.

2:16:50 Yeah.

2:16:50 It's very it's very very honest, you know what?

2:16:53 Mhm.

2:16:53 Not like uh you know,

2:16:55 for example um there is some rules are like it's not like fair, you know.

2:17:03 Uh even like now I heard that they want to experience the you know,

2:17:09 Arsene Wenger rules about the offside.

2:17:12 No.

2:17:13 It's like about uh what he wants it's like uh offside

2:17:20 is really like an offside if like the full body Ah.

2:17:25 striker is ahead the the the last uh player, you know.

2:17:30 So for me it's like uh nonsense, you know.

2:17:35 If even if it's 1 mm it's 1 mm.

2:17:38 it's offside is offside.

2:17:39 it makes the difference.

2:17:40 Yeah.

2:17:40 Yeah.

2:17:41 It gives too much advantage to to the striker.

2:17:44 I'm happy with how it is now.

2:17:45 Yeah, me too.

2:17:46 Yeah, it should stay like that.

2:17:47 It should stay like that.

2:17:49 One thing I don't understand and they and in rugby they they get it right.

2:17:54 When there is a decision that needs to be made on the pitch

2:17:59 the video referee is watching it and he's communicating to the to the ref.

2:18:03 Why doesn't football why does the ref have to go off and look at the screen?

2:18:07 But in rugby it works perfectly in the VAR VAR office.

2:18:11 So the delay of game I think they

2:18:14 should trust a little bit more the video referee.

2:18:16 I think it's like the in football

2:18:21 the problem I think it's about responsibilities, you know.

2:18:24 They don't want to they don't want to take out too much power from the referee

2:18:30 the the central referee and give it to the people in the VAR, you know.

2:18:38 So it's like a bit of conflict, but at the end they work together, you know.

2:18:42 Yeah.

2:18:42 And it's for the sake of the game,

2:18:45 so for me like uh I agree with you because I'm watching like rugby.

2:18:50 Yeah.

2:18:51 And this is tough.

2:18:52 Yeah.

2:18:52 You know?

2:18:53 And it's like fast uh decision uh clear because uh

2:18:59 the communicate and there is no like uh you know?

2:19:03 Yeah.

2:19:03 In in football there is like with the VAR we still like, you know?

2:19:10 We are not there.

2:19:11 We are not there because there is a too many like uh um whether like the referee

2:19:19 like uh uh goes or like the VAR send the the referees to check or like

2:19:26 um when they decide to use the VAR because for for example um I give you

2:19:35 an example uh during the F confiner there

2:19:39 was the there was the situation penalty Yeah.

2:19:44 It was uh like uh in the corner kick,

2:19:48 but the corner kick should not be because when

2:19:52 the player give the pass the player was offside.

2:19:56 But it gives an opportunity to the opponent.

2:20:01 Why they should not use the VAR to stop it here and say like,

2:20:11 "Okay, the player is offside." Offside.

2:20:13 The player is offside is offside.

2:20:14 Yeah.

2:20:14 The The corner kick is given because his position was giving him an advantage.

2:20:25 So it's a foul.

2:20:27 You know?

2:20:28 Yeah.

2:20:28 I I think that the the the the worry

2:20:30 is that they don't want VAR to interrupt the game.

2:20:33 Yeah.

2:20:33 But if there's a violation

2:20:34 That's why you know, it's like between like referees and Correct.

2:20:38 But for me like If there's a violation Yeah.

2:20:41 interrupt the game.

2:20:42 Interrupt the game.

2:20:43 Sorry, we have to go back to this incident.

2:20:46 Because you know has been around for 5 years more or less, maybe 5 years,

2:20:49 but it it's still the way it is year one as year five.

2:20:53 It hasn't evolved.

2:20:54 No.

2:20:54 I think today, honestly video ref should be

2:20:57 communicating with the main ref With the main ref.

2:21:00 so that the guy I laugh every time a ref runs off to see a screen.

2:21:04 I'm like, "What When are we going to laugh

2:21:06 at the day when that used to happen?" Well,

2:21:08 it's still happening right now, so Yeah.

2:21:11 It's uh when when that's no longer the case,

2:21:13 we will laugh at the day when the ref used to run off.

2:21:16 And then he's there looking forever and then

2:21:18 he goes there and then he does this.

2:21:20 I mean, it's just so time You laugh but me me when I see a referee I'm scared.

2:21:26 Cuz I'm like, "Oh my god." Sure.

2:21:28 What they going to say?

2:21:29 I'm sure.

2:21:31 [laughter] Um Five questions to go.

2:21:33 Do you drive in Jeddah?

2:21:35 No.

2:21:36 No.

2:21:36 That's one of the Driving Driving in Jeddah is challenging, yeah.

2:21:40 You know?

2:21:40 I coming here from from Dakar.

2:21:44 It's something, but Jeddah is something else.

2:21:47 I can confirm you.

2:21:48 Yeah, yeah.

2:21:49 We It's um especially roundabouts.

2:21:51 They can get tricky.

2:21:54 Woah.

2:21:54 I don't blame you.

2:21:54 Sit in the back and just relax.

2:21:58 Yes.

2:21:58 Um [clears throat] Does your pre-match routine change depending on opponent?

2:22:04 No.

2:22:04 Same?

2:22:05 Same.

2:22:05 No matter what?

2:22:06 Yeah.

2:22:07 That's why I told you James Mhm.

2:22:09 James Mhm.

2:22:10 Phil Aguero Mhm.

2:22:13 always.

2:22:15 Love it.

2:22:17 Favorite striker to play against?

2:22:20 Play against?

2:22:21 Yeah.

2:22:21 A guy who you want to play against because you want

2:22:24 to go against that guy and you're not going to score on me.

2:22:31 [laughter] No.

2:22:31 I have this mindset for for all the the strikers I I I faced.

2:22:37 Um I don't want them uh to score any of them.

2:22:42 And uh yeah.

2:22:44 Uh I think in the league we have top strikers.

2:22:47 We do.

2:22:47 We have really top strikers.

2:22:50 Um but uh in my team we have the best.

2:22:55 I have to be honest.

2:22:57 I and I already said uh to be honest if I was a defender or striker,

2:23:04 I would hate Oh, goalkeeper, sorry.

2:23:08 I would hate to play against uh Firmino and Ivan.

2:23:11 And Ivan Toney.

2:23:12 I would hate.

2:23:13 Yeah.

2:23:13 Because they they are like a poison, you know?

2:23:16 Mhm.

2:23:17 Every every ball you have, they are on you in the box.

2:23:21 And they are so good and even the work rate, you know?

2:23:27 Pressing like counter press, press, take the space.

2:23:31 For me, they are the they are the best.

2:23:33 And Ivan is not affected by pressure.

2:23:35 Oh, no.

2:23:36 It's like he's playing in his back garden.

2:23:38 Yes.

2:23:39 Yeah.

2:23:39 Yeah.

2:23:39 Yeah.

2:23:39 Yeah.

2:23:39 This guy uh yes.

2:23:41 His skill This guy drinks the pressure, you know?

2:23:44 He loves it.

2:23:45 He thrives off it.

2:23:45 Since he's but since he's in Premier League, you know?

2:23:49 Yeah.

2:23:49 He always been like this, you know, cold.

2:23:51 Yeah.

2:23:51 Cold and uh really like uh focused.

2:23:55 And we touched on this guy earlier in the episode.

2:23:57 Riyad Mahrez is uh is a wizard.

2:24:00 Yeah.

2:24:00 He really under- He has a high IQ of the game.

2:24:04 He's seen it.

2:24:04 He knows what you are going to do as a defender.

2:24:07 And as it was said um uh by by by your coach, he has uh an amazing first touch.

2:24:14 His first touch, sometimes, you know,

2:24:16 sometimes I give him ball and I hope, you know,

2:24:20 when you when you send ball with the speed,

2:24:25 with like the power, you just like wish he will control this way.

2:24:33 But this guy he is make it.

2:24:35 And sometimes [clears throat] with his wrong foot, yeah, It's unbelievable.

2:24:40 Yeah.

2:24:40 Very rare.

2:24:41 best to like left foot.

2:24:45 Yeah.

2:24:45 Vision, like he's he he sees like some pass that it

2:24:53 tooks like uh you 10 seconds to find it, space.

2:24:58 He he put he put the ball the way that you don't have to do extra touch.

2:25:05 Yeah.

2:25:05 You know, he anticipate everything, you know?

2:25:07 This type of players they are they are special.

2:25:10 To be honest, they are they are special

2:25:12 and he he made a great difference for us.

2:25:16 Truly.

2:25:16 Uh This uh one fan said, "You have no idea how much Ahly fans love you.

2:25:24 Do you hope to retire with the club?" [laughter]

2:25:30 They don't want [snorts] to see you go anywhere else.

2:25:33 Not to to be honest,

2:25:35 uh I don't I don't want to see myself uh somewhere else, you know?

2:25:42 Uh I I've I really feel like you know,

2:25:48 that I I have everything uh to continue to to perform on the highest level.

2:25:55 Um this club um gives me gives me the the opportunity

2:26:02 to to play on the highest level with my national team, you know?

2:26:07 I would not be a and the Senegal would not be a champion

2:26:12 of Africa if I was not playing in Al Ahly, you know?

2:26:16 So, for me I'm at the right place at the right time with the the right people.

2:26:24 Uh the club from the board, you know,

2:26:29 from the the the people who extended my contract

2:26:34 to the first people who who was at the club,

2:26:37 um I have the trust from all these people, you know?

2:26:42 And for me like the trust is something like very important, you know?

2:26:47 Absolutely.

2:26:48 And um when I signed to to Al Ahly, uh I said to my uh what made the difference

2:26:55 between Al Ahly and the other clubs is the the love

2:27:01 that I felt and um the fact that they I was

2:27:07 really wanted by the people who are really important in the club.

2:27:13 So, since that day, I have this trust, you know?

2:27:17 And I work every day hard to keep this trust.

2:27:21 So, yeah, uh as long as I can, you know?

2:27:27 Uh I and I hope it will be until my retirement.

2:27:31 Sure.

2:27:31 But you know, but this shirt as I said already is heavy.

2:27:37 If you wear it, you need to be able to to give the best, you know.

2:27:42 If you cannot give the best, you cannot wear it, you know.

2:27:46 It's a responsibility.

2:27:47 It's a responsibility, you know.

2:27:49 So, as long as I feel that I can handle and deal with this, yes,

2:27:58 I will I will wear it.

2:27:59 So, I hope it will be a until my retirement.

2:28:03 But, always I will always want the club.

2:28:08 And yeah, if it's me, it's me, you know.

2:28:13 So, I will I will do everything uh

2:28:16 to to stay and to give everything for the club.

2:28:19 Inshallah.

2:28:21 And last question, 3 years in Saudi so far.

2:28:26 How has Saudi treated you?

2:28:27 Are you happy?

2:28:30 I'm more than happy, you know.

2:28:32 We we pass happy since uh since I arrive, you know.

2:28:37 It's more than that, you know.

2:28:39 Uh uh Since I arrive, like as I told you,

2:28:44 even when I had a bad start at the club,

2:28:47 uh everybody was showing me um hospitality,

2:28:54 like everybody was very like welcoming to to to me and my family.

2:29:01 Um we felt straight away at home uh from the moment we got the the house.

2:29:12 So, um yeah, I'm more than happy here.

2:29:16 My family's happy.

2:29:18 Um my mom, she loves to come to to Jeddah.

2:29:24 She really find a a place where she can stay and also live.

2:29:29 My daughter, uh, she's born in in Jeddah.

2:29:33 So, Congratulations on that.

2:29:34 Thank you.

2:29:35 She's almost a month, right?

2:29:36 Yeah, almost a month.

2:29:37 That's amazing.

2:29:37 It's She's a She's a Saudi, let's say.

2:29:42 So, uh, we have we have a big part of our life here.

2:29:47 Yeah.

2:29:48 And, we hope that it will continue for for a while.

2:29:52 Yes, inshallah.

2:29:53 Inshallah, many more years.

2:29:54 Inshallah.

2:29:54 Edu, thank you so much for this conversation.

2:29:57 Honestly, it was it was [sighs] Ah.

2:30:00 I mean, I don't say this often,

2:30:01 but it was one of my favorite conversations because it was real,

2:30:06 it was authentic, it was raw.

2:30:08 Um, it it was great to be in the presence of someone

2:30:12 who operates uh in a way that is nothing short of excellence.

2:30:16 Someone who doesn't cheat the game.

2:30:18 I want to say that like, you know, three times and underline it.

2:30:21 Doesn't cheat the game.

2:30:22 Doesn't cheat the game.

2:30:23 Um, and just to come here,

2:30:25 I don't know how long we've been shooting for, over two hours.

2:30:27 It didn't even seem like the time.

2:30:30 I didn't flies.

2:30:31 Are you serious?

2:30:32 Really?

2:30:33 Wow.

2:30:33 Two hours and 40 I am so sorry that I

2:30:35 kept you away from your family for this long.

2:30:37 It didn't seem like the time.

2:30:37 It's 3:17 a.m.

2:30:39 in Jeddah and it's not Ramadan.

2:30:43 [laughter] I'm I owe you.

2:30:44 I really do for this time.

2:30:45 It's my pleasure.

2:30:46 Uh, such an honor.

2:30:48 Such an honor.

2:30:49 To have you on, Edu.

2:30:50 It was a really like a place where I feel like comfortable, like home.

2:30:55 So, thanks to you.

2:30:56 That means a lot to me.

2:30:57 That means a lot to me.

2:30:58 Thanks to having me.

2:30:59 It was really a pleasure.

2:31:01 And, hope to see you at the stage jump for another great moment.

2:31:06 For sure, definitely.

2:31:07 You, sir, have a fan for life.

2:31:09 And, and and and hopefully uh you have a new friend as well in Jeddah.

2:31:14 Thank you so much for coming on the show, Edu,

2:31:16 and all the best with the league, inshallah, and and winning Asia again, ya rab.

2:31:23 Me and my team will be cheering for you.

2:31:25 And, again, congratulations on your third child.

2:31:35 [music] [music] [music]