Teen sensation Desire Doue capped off a remarkable season by netting two goals in a breathtaking performance, leading Paris Saint-Germain to a resounding 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in the Champions League final on Saturday.
“I’m lost for words. It’s a dream realised. It’s simply magnificent,” Doue exclaimed in a short interview with broadcaster Canal Plus as ecstatic PSG supporters flooded the pitch at the Allianz Arena, celebrating their team’s first trophy win in this competition.
No player embodies the youthful exuberance and dynamism of Luis Enrique’s exhilarating PSG squad quite like Doue, who has had an outstanding campaign, announcing himself to a global audience with his display in Munich.
Just three days shy of his 20th birthday, Doue orchestrated the match, setting up Achraf Hakimi for PSG’s opening goal.
He then became just the third teenager to find the net in the final of the modern Champions League, scoring to make it 2-0.
The French international follows in the footsteps of Patrick Kluivert, who was only 18 when he scored for Ajax in 1995, and Brazilian Carlos Alberto Gomes, a 19-year-old scorer for Porto in 2004.
Doue soon scored again before being substituted to rapturous applause, with fellow teenager Senny Mayulu sealing the victory with the fifth goal just two weeks after turning 19.
“What we achieved today is magical. We have made history for both French and European football, and I could not be happier with how the season has unfolded,” he declared, reflecting on the largest margin of victory registered in a Champions League final.
This has been an astonishing season for PSG, following the departure of key player Kylian Mbappe. They have clinched Europe’s top club competition for the first time and also secured a domestic league and cup double.
For Doue, it has been especially noteworthy, with his dazzling footwork reminiscent of former PSG superstar Neymar at his prime.
Doue joined PSG from Rennes in August for a reported fee of €50 million (£42 million), signing a five-year contract.
In his previous two seasons at Rennes, he made a total of 76 appearances, debuting at the age of 17 in August 2022.
From Olympic silver to European glory
Initially, Doue took time to settle into his new environment, particularly as he was part of Thierry Henry’s France squad that reached the final in the Paris Olympics.
During the first four months of the season, he started just four games for Luis Enrique’s side, including one in a 2-0 loss to Arsenal.
However, his progress from mid-December onwards was astonishing, coinciding with an impressive run of form from his team.
Doue has since become a regular starter, playing a pivotal role in Luis Enrique’s squad making it to the final, notably scoring the first goal in a 3-0 triumph over Salzburg in December that kicked off their European journey.
He later converted the decisive penalty in the shoot-out against Liverpool in the Round of 16, as well as scoring a fantastic goal against Aston Villa in the quarter-finals.
Truly Talented
Doue, whose name fittingly translates to “talented,” finishes his campaign with an impressive tally of 15 goals and 16 assists in 54 appearances.
“This is my first season here, and winning the Champions League was a dream for me. Great players have played here without winning it, but we have shown incredible collective strength, and it is just magnificent,” he remarked.
“I required time to adapt to life at Paris Saint-Germain, but having such talented players around me helps me improve every day.
“We still have many great achievements ahead of us with this club.”
Doue expressed his excitement about the upcoming celebrations in Paris with a planned parade along the Champs-Elysees, but he is also eager to quickly return to training.
His elder brother Guela, with whom he played at Rennes, represents the Ivory Coast internationally, the country of their father’s heritage.
Desire, on the other hand, has seen his progress since joining PSG rewarded with his senior France debut earlier this year.
He will return to Germany next week to represent France in the UEFA Nations League finals before heading to the United States with PSG in pursuit of more silverware at the Club World Cup.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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