Is it time for Désiré Doué to define his game? | OneFootball

Désiré Doué’s range is provoking a familiar debate at Paris Saint-Germain. According to L'Équipe, the 20-year-old, after about 200 senior matches, dribbles, creates, finishes and can also win the ball, so should he now define a primary role?

On 11 March Paris Saint-Germain beat Chelsea 5-2 in the Champions League last 16 first leg, then 3-0 in the return.

Raised in Le Rheu, he watched countless Neymar videos, though those close to him say he never tried to be Neymar. He may lack the Brazilian’s pure invention, yet he brings other facets and has privately spoken about becoming an all-round, almost ultimate, player.

With France Under-19s, Bernard Diomède asked him to define himself and Doué replied he liked Neymar and would play where the coach needed. Diomède judged he could cover many roles, likened his central influence to Youri Djorkaeff and said the coach must decide where he serves best.

He has been an eight or a 10 in youth teams, formed a double pivot at Rennes, played on the right in last season’s Europe and worked as a winger for France. Luis Enrique first envisaged him as a left-sided relay midfielder in 2024, yet after the 3-1 win over Toulouse on 3 April he called him primarily a forward while praising his midfield work.

Julien Stéphan argues there is no need to box him in over the short or medium term. He says full maturity will likely come around 24 to 26 and that Doué could then become higher, axial and ultra-decisive.

For Romain Ferrier, his identity is freedom within a collective frame, with errors tolerated for flashes of genius. Seeing progress in his final action, he believes Doué should ultimately live in the finishing zone, whether left half-space, right or central.

Source: L'Équipe