Matvey Safonov arrived in Paris two years ago and decided that French would be his other training ground.
The Russian PSG goalkeeper confessed that learning the language had become his favorite pastime, almost a healthy obsession: he schedules lessons at short notice and makes use of every free moment.
Safonov admits with a laugh that the gender of words still defeats him. “Un” or “une” is a mystery he still hasn’t solved, so at the bakery he asks for two, which helps him avoid making a mistake.
But behind the anecdote lies something bigger. For Safonov, speaking French isn’t just about communicating; it’s a form of respect for the city that welcomed him and for the club that made him a champion.
Hopefully more footballers will show that same humility.