Javier Pastore was one of the first transfers for Paris Saint-Germain when Qatari Sports Investment purchased the club in 2011. The Argentine came to Paris, where he spent seven seasons with PSG and recently talked with Telefoot (via Culture PSG) about his time in the French capital and his thoughts on the current squad.
The 30-year-old first opened up about transition to a new city and club when he left for AS Roma in 2018. Pastore admitted that it was weird at first considering it’s a new environment, but after 18 months in Rome, the midfielder feels comfortable.
After a softball question, Telefoot starts asking Pastore about his departure, where he admits that it was his time to leave. Furthermore, Pastore went on to say that if he’d stayed healthy and played consistently, perhaps the club would’ve extended his contract, allowing him to retire in Paris.
However, injuries were an issue at PSG and Pastore felt it was best to leave. Pastore also opens up about the love PSG supporters have for him and how the romance between him and fanbase grew after his goal against Chelsea FC in the UEFA Champions League back in 2014.
Javier Pastore 👏👏👏
🗓️ #OTD in 2014, @Javi_Pastore scored THIS goal… #UCL pic.twitter.com/NVkQmtHB4o
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 2, 2019
Then he was asked about PSG’s current squad, highlighting all of the talented players and mentioning how PSG has “matured at all levels.” Adding that Leonardo will do everything in his power to put together a squad that can go far in the Champions League.
“Mbappé is at an incredible level, he has everything to become one of the best players in the world,” Pastore said. “Add Neymar, [Edinson] Cavani, [Mauro] Icardi, [Angel] Di Maria…To have the chance to have four to five players of this caliber in a return match, you are sure to score and you are more likely to pass and reach a final.”
Finally, Pastore answers questions about a possible return to Ligue 1 but quickly responds no if that club is Olympique de Marseille. However, he does seem interested in Olympique Lyonnais who need offensive help after the injury to Memphis Depay.
“There are interesting clubs like Lyon, which is a symbolic club in France, there are also other teams,” Pastore said.
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