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I could have stayed at PSG and learned from Neymar and pal Mbappe... but I wanted to copy my inspiration Moussa DEMBELE’S FOOTSTEPS
ODSONNE EDOUARD has vowed to score against his parent club PSG if Celtic give him his big Champions League chance.
The on-loan striker says he’d have no qualms about biting the hand that feeds him if Brendan Rodgers pitches him straight into
WHEN Brendan Rodgers came to Paris to explain how he can make Odsonne Edouard a better player the 19-year-old was impressed.
Yet what the Celtic manager didn’t realise at the time is that he needn’t have bothered.
Because the PSG rising star has already seen what Rodgers can do just by looking at the rapid progress of Moussa Dembele.
There are plenty of reasons why Celtic’s new loan signing can relate to his fellow Frenchman.
They’re both young goalscorers building a reputation as one of Europe’s most exciting prospects.
But most of all Edouard looks at Dembele’s matching background, also coming from PSG’s youth ranks, as the example that he and all his peers in the Parc de Princes youth set-up aspire to.
There are few greater incentives than having footsteps to follow and Dembele’s are fresh enough to convince Edouard that he too can emulate that rapid rise under the guidance of Rodgers.
That’s why he snubbed other opportunities to go on loan in France to seek his big break in the Champions League.
Which could come against his parent club when PSG roll up at Parkhead on September 12.
Edouard said: “Moussa comes from the PSG academy as well and, when you look at his career so far, then him coming here is an example to every player going through that academy.
“He gives everyone motivation by seeing how he has grown and improved. He has become a really good player and I’m looking forward to learning a lot from him in terms of his development.
“I haven’t spoken to Moussa yet because everything has happened so fast over the last week.
“Nothing was certain until very late on Thursday so there was not much point talking to him about coming before I had signed.
“But I’m looking forward to playing with him and spending time with him. We will have time to discuss loads of things.
“I got a message this morning from Olivier Ntcham saying, ‘Welcome to the club’ and I’ve probably had one from Moussa as well but I’ve been running around like mad and haven’t been able to check my phone.
“The main thing is to start training, work hard and play in as many games as I can. I need to work with the coach and we will then see how things go.”
As impressive as Dembele’s rise in stature over his first season at Celtic proved, he is not the only inspirational example that
Moussa coming here is an example to every player in PSG’s academy ODSONNE EDOUARD
Edouard can draw upon. On the same day he flew out of Paris to conclude his season-long loan, close friend Kylian Mbappe was arriving at PSG to finalise one of the biggest deals in world football.
His capture from Monaco is a loan switch only on paper to get around UEFA’s financial fair play rules before a £166million deal is concluded next year.
But Edouard knew the talented 18-year-old long before he rose to such superstar status and admits it would be a huge thrill to share a pitch with his pal when the Champions League action starts. Ultimately, though, it’s on duty for France’s senior team where Edouard would love most to be reunited with his mate.
He said: “I know Kylian very well because we are childhood friends. We used to live very close to each other but we didn’t play for the same clubs. I played for Bobigny and Kylian played for Bondy, they are both in the northeast of Paris.
“So from the start there was a rivalry between the two boys clubs.
“It’s a really good thing that he has signed for PSG, he deserves it. Every footballer has that kind of ambition, to become a really big player in Europe like Kylian has become. I’m no different.
“I’m ambitious and want to become a really good player.
“My key aim at the moment is to be selected for the French team at some point in the future.
“But for now the key thing is to concentrate on what is happening next week.
“In terms of a collective the objective is winning the league with Celtic, winning the Scottish Cup and doing as well as we can in the Champions League.
“I could have stayed at PSG to work with Kylian and Neymar but my objective is to make progress,
to improve as a player. The only way you are going to do that is by playing real matches. This is the only way you are going to become a better player if you look to your longer-term career.”
That long-term future was cast in doubt back in February when a moment of madness saw his loan spell at Toulouse cut short.
Charged with shooting a passer-by on the head with an airgun through the window of his car before driving off, Edouard protested his innocence – blaming a team-mate who was travelling with him for pulling the trigger.
A four-month suspended prison sentence and a fine proved to be a turning point.
He added: “At Toulouse I learned a lot. It was my first time living outside Paris. I know I’ve made some mistakes but it’s all behind me.
“I didn’t worry for my career but it really forced me to think hard about what’s important.
“You could probably describe it as something bad which led to something really good.”
Now this latest step is intended to lead him to even better.