Vahid Halilhodzic was back at the Parc des Princes this Wednesday for the late match of the 26e day of Ligue 1 between PSG and FC Nantes (3-0 victory for the Parisians). The opportunity for the legend of the capital club, Pedro Miguel Pauleta, to recount his meeting with the man who was the coach of the Rouges et Bleus from May 2003 to February 2005.
It was precisely during this summer of 2003, during coach Vahid’s first off-season, that the Portuguese striker arrived in Paris from Bordeaux. With upon his arrival a muscular and unexpected explanation from his new trainer. “ I remember that they were on training in Aix-les-Bains. And two, three days before Ronaldinho had signed for Barçaremembers the goleador for Ici Paris Ile-de-France. I arrive in Aix-les-Bains, I go straight to the training ground. I do the first training and in the evening Vahid calls me into his room to talk with me… »
The rest is lunar. “ I arrive, and he starts to threaten me. This is the first time he’s spoken to me! », continues Pedro Pauleta. “ “But who do you think you are, Pedro? Here the boss at Paris Saint-Germain is me, it’s not you! Ronaldinho, it was the same, that’s why he left, I’m the boss” », shouts the Bosnian strategist known for his roughness.
“I didn’t want to stay (in Paris)”
This episode which the main person concerned is having fun with today could nevertheless have spoiled his Parisian experience. “ I said to myself: “But the guy did everything to get me to come, he called me fifty times for me to come to Paris…” I left the room, I called my agent, I wanted to go back to Bordeaux, I didn’t want to stay here! »
And to conclude: “ Vahid knew me a little as a player and maybe even a little as a person. He didn’t want another Ronaldinho to arrive, who thinks he’s going to do what he wants. But for me, that’s not my way of being in life, that’s not my way of being in football. He wanted to impose himself immediately from the first conversation. » Fortunately without consequence for PSG who will take full advantage of the talents of the Lusitanian international for five years, for a record of 109 goals in 211 outings.
