OM supporters and Ligue 1 fans remember it. Promised for a bright future upon leaving the training center in 2003, Mathieu Flamini left Marselle after a single season among professionals, refusing the contract offer proposed by the club to join Arsenal. “A beautiful betrayal”says his coach at the time, José Anigo.
Between two stints with the Gunners (2004-2008 then 2013-2016), the former midfielder wore the colors of AC Milan. An experience that changed not his career, but his life. It was indeed in Italy that the former French international (3 caps) made an important decision by starting to prepare for his post-career.
A reconversion which led him to co-found the company GFBiochemicals, specializing in green chemistry, and to become, at the age of 42, a multi-billionaire. According to the magazine
Forbeshis fortune is estimated at more than 10 billion pounds sterling, or nearly 12 billion euros. A success that was born from an astonishing passion.
A fortune estimated at 12 billion euros
“From a very young age, I had the opportunity to understand the negative impacts of human beings on the planet. A passion that developed alongside my other passion, football”explains in the podcast Anatomy of a decision of The Express the one who played at Crystal Palace (2016-2017) before hanging up at Getafe (2018-2019).
This dual role of footballer and entrepreneur, the former Rossoneri player did not want to talk about it immediately to his teammates. “After naps, some players prefer to play PlayStation, go shopping or go for a walk. I decided to take a slightly different path: learn and develop”he confides.
“I was very lucky because I already had certain bases (BAC ES, law school). Life is a paradox because at school I didn’t like two subjects very much: English and chemistry. And today, I speak 90% in English and find myself at the head of a green chemistry group”smiles Mathieu Flamini, richer since he hung up his crampons.
