Pastore's striking words on how football has changed

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·11. September 2025

Pastore's striking words on how football has changed

Javier Pastore, former attacking midfielder for Argentina and Paris Saint-Germain (2011-2018) in particular, hung up his boots in 2023 and is embarking on a new career in football. Not as a coach, but rather a position within management. He is pursuing training before taking a position (even though he has already had offers), El Flaco shared his thoughts with L'Equipe. He explained what he regrets about the evolution of football and what he would like to change.

Pastore "too young, money distances you from the passion for football."

"There is one thing I regret in sports: it's that when you're too young, money distances you from the passion for football. If a boy of 18, 19 years old earns 10 million euros a year, how can he put passion first? When you earn that much, there are inevitably people who come closer to you. They talk to you about investments, about ten thousand things, but they no longer talk to you about football. I played my whole life for football. Investments, everything else, that's after. How to correct this evolution? It goes through training. We need to restore the taste for football. Today, we think primarily about creating a style of player to sell later. We no longer think enough about what quality a person has to become a different kind of football player.

Pastore "We must give young people the right to make mistakes."

We prepare athletes too young to make them play football. I see it with my son who is 7 years old and plays in a neighborhood club. I sometimes hear coaches telling children how to make a pass, as if there was only one way. My son likes to make passes with the outside of his foot. If he wants to do it that way, why tell him no? We must give young people the right to make mistakes. You can't learn if you don't make mistakes. If you always say to play with one or two touches, what does a player do in a one against two or three situation, in a small space? Does he throw the ball away? Because young people no longer know how to dribble enough.

Pastore "I never used the phone in the locker room. For me, the locker room was a place for exchanges."

Are you not afraid of being disappointed when you return to a club compared to the mindset of today's players? I would like to try to gradually change this mentality, to make them experience football differently. Today, football is a job. You go to the training center for two, three hours, you leave, you play on the weekend, you earn money and it's over. I experienced that during my last two or three years of career. You arrive at training and there are thirty boys, like that, on their smartphones looking at social networks or I don't know what, without talking to each other. I never used the phone in the locker room. For me, the locker room was a place for exchanges."

We can easily understand Pastore's position, especially since he has always been a player full of instinct. And much less physical power. Which tends to be rather rare today, even though there are still players who are primarily creative. But there is a physical requirement to play at the highest level. Which is understandable, with the importance of pressing, the efforts to repeat, etc. However, we must not destroy the players' qualities.

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Football is played with collective efforts, of course. Defense should not be neglected, obviously. There are "ways" to attack, certainly. However, there is also the pleasure of the players, their creativity, their ability to surprise. These are also elements to preserve, even to develop. Pastore perfectly embodied these qualities and will certainly be able to convey his idea of football.

There is also a real importance for him in sharing with teammates and all the people around. It's not just about coming to the club, doing your training, and leaving. You have to live the moment, enjoy it. Without forgetting the staff, the caretakers, and other involved people. We can only love this football of passion and strong bonds. It's the main idea, before money and social networks.

Even if it is part of the "game" today, especially for professionals. It's logical, it's a job and you need to have income. But be careful not to lose sight of the pleasure of playing football daily and during matches. It's no coincidence that we've seen some players with short-lived careers, even though their talent seemed destined for something else.

We can only wish Pastore success in finding his place in a club to establish his philosophy. For this, he can count on PSG's help.

Pastore supported by PSG.

"Does Nasser al-Khelaïfi know that you are following this training? Yes. And he allows me to talk with the people who work for him. I had the chance to do many things for PSG, as a club ambassador. It's an important space. When I interact with marketing and sponsors, I learn. Nasser often invites me to the ECA (European Club Association), also to talk with other presidents, sports directors. At PSG, Yohan Cabaye, the sports director of the training center, invited me to observe the functioning, see the women's team, visit the offices, do a complete tour. I will go. I also spoke with Luis Enrique (he smiles). I told him: "Let me watch the training, I'll stand there, on the side."

It's always very appreciable to see the bond that has developed between Pastore and PSG. There will always be the immense regret of the Argentine's injuries, not allowing him to fully express himself. But there will never be any doubt about his love for the club and his commitment, and PSG never hesitates to highlight its former player or help him.

Of course, we can already envision a place for the Argentine one day in Paris. Except that there is nothing for the moment and he insists in the interview on finishing his training first. He doesn't want to rush and fail, wherever it may be.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.