I like American sports. For me, it would be a dream to be able to see an American football game and NBA game every week.
San Antonio Spurs (1). Because of Tony, obviously.
Yeah, I tried to play Tony. He played me. He’s one of the best in the league. As you can imagine, I wasn’t that great against him.
It was a bit difficult because I’m friends with Tony and friends with Ronny Turiaf (2). I had to text them both “good luck” before the game.
I’m a Giants fan. So you can imagine I was happy when they won against the Patriots.
I just realized recently in New York on vacation that soccer is growing. I remember when I used to go to New York five years ago, if you were meeting European guys or people from Mexico or Jamaica, then they would know you. Now Americans know who you are.
I don’t know why, but since I was young it’s always been a dream for me to live in the U.S. It’s always something I look forward to and it might happen pretty soon.
If I come here one day to play–and I’m saying “if”–everybody talks about New York because I’ve said I love New York. It’s been more than 10 years since I’ve been going to New York. There’s something I can’t describe about New York that I like.
Just being able to do whatever I want to do, not being bothered–if I can say that not in a bad way–going to the movies. I feel free. The town is big. I love towns. I love buildings.
It was frustrating for everybody (3). The club didn’t win for two years. A club like that . . . not winning is a big deal. We had a lot of players injured, including myself. People expect a lot from us and we didn’t deliver.
You know how it is. When you’re winning, everything is cool. When you have trouble, everything is always difficult. That’s the way it is.
Now a lot of stuff has changed, the staff, the boss. Hopefully we do something this season.
In the very beginning, playing soccer was to please my dad. I just wanted put a smile on his face.
I wasn’t doing it for me. He wanted to do it but never had the chance. I think he was kind of living his life through me. My Mom was more into education and school. It was a good mix.
Outside of Paris you have a lot of tough areas. At the time, for me it was the best place in the world because I didn’t know anything else. It’s only when you start to travel that you realize it’s not the best in the world. But if you ask me if I’d do it again, I’d do it again.
I grew up in the projects. I got everything you get–being a man earlier, making decisions earlier, being respected. But you also have trouble–drugs, crime.
Thankfully for me I had parents that were really strict. I never had an opportunity to be around that because I wasn’t allowed out when it was too dark. My parents were quite cautious with that. I think they were right. I stayed out of trouble and was really focused on the game.
I don’t want to use the cliche that where I grew up was so tough, but it’s a fact it was tough. I’m not complaining. It made me who I am.
(1) His favorite NBA team.
(2) San Antonio faced Turiaf’s Lakers in the 2008 Western Conference finals.
(3) Barcelona finished third last season in the Spanish league and hasn’t won the league title since the 2005-’06 season.
