Former Milan and Roma forward Jeremy Menez confesses to turning down Manchester United and Juventus. “I could’ve done so much more, but thought talent would suffice.”
The Frenchman was capable of some extraordinary performances and goals, but they were too few and far between, so at 32 he is looking back over a career with regrets.
“I could’ve done so much more, but I didn’t work enough. I thought talent would suffice,” Menez told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Former Milan and Roma forward Jeremy Menez confesses to turning down Manchester United and Juventus. “I could’ve done so much more, but thought talent would suffice.”
The Frenchman was capable of some extraordinary performances and goals, but they were too few and far between, so at 32 he is looking back over a career with regrets.
“I could’ve done so much more, but I didn’t work enough. I thought talent would suffice,” Menez told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“That back-heel goal in Parma 4-5 Milan, that is Menez right there. My style was born in the streets of Paris, in tight alleyways with games that would end up in brawls. I am what I am thanks to the Banlieue. Many of my friends from back then came to a nasty end.”
The striker revealed he turned down Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson at the age of 16 after visiting their training ground, but that does not represent one of his regrets in life.
“People said I was as good as Kaka in training, but then vanished for periods of the game. I need a coach to have faith in me to give my best, which is what happened at PSG with Carlo Ancelotti, who is the absolute best. He’d come with us to the restaurant, he never shouted.
“Playing in Paris was my dream, that’s why I chose to leave Roma and turned down Juventus, even though Antonio Conte called personally to convince me.
“Luciano Spalletti and Claudio Ranieri were like fathers to me, which also meant giving me a telling off to help me grow up. I still don’t know how we didn’t win the Scudetto in 2010. Francesco Totti was a big brother, as just like he did with Antonio Cassano, he invited me to live with his parents for the first few months in Rome.
“When I went to Milan, I scored 16 goals as a centre-forward, a role Pippo Inzaghi invented for me in 2014-15. It took me back to playing in the streets, dribbling between criminality and guns.”
If Menez were to give some advice now to his younger self, what would it be?
“To work hard and do less dumb things.”