Messi

Paris is a hotbed of young talent so why are Paris Saint-Germain so consumed by foreign superstars? Adam Bate reports from the French capital having spoken ...

Watching Zidane oversee the next generation of talent, ahead of a Champions League final not involving PSG, is this club squandering its greatest resource by failing to prioritise the talent on its doorstep? This is the context of the booing of Messi and Neymar. Sporadic though it has been, some saw that as entitlement, evidence of supporters losing perspective in a season in which they reclaimed the French title. In search of opportunity, more and more talented players of vast potential are venturing away at a very young age. All of which is enough to wonder whether PSG, for all their financial capabilities, may still be missing a trick in wasting this chance. It was indicative of the depth of talent. Teams include Pirate FC and FC Tiki Taka, while the entire tournament - games last for only 10 minutes - is played out against a backdrop of noise, the accompanying beat from the resident DJ providing the rhythm. "It is due to the high number of district championships, teams and very good players, too," he explains. That coaching is not the focus at Playground ZZ10, this dedicated space for sports and street culture. For the crowd gathered at the five-a-side pitch named in his honour, he is one of them. This begins a legacy project designed to support the city’s grassroots football communities by offering a home and place to play, improving visibility and access to the game at all levels. The youngsters have come from the various arrondissements of Paris to showcase their skills - and those skills are frequently eye-catching.