Dayot Upamecano and Ousmane Dembélé have a close relationship on and off the pitch. On the pitch, they meet frequently, as PSG and Bayern Munich can’t seem to avoid each other in the UEFA Champions League. Off the pitch, Upa seems glad that his childhood friend has reached the pinnacle of world football.
“We went to the same school, we played on the same pitches, I played against him as kids,” said Upamecano (via @iMiaSanMia). “Honestly, I don’t have the words. We all knew he would become a great
player, but still… When I saw him lift the Ballon d’Or, it brought tears to my eyes.”
“I should have been there for the ceremony, but I couldn’t come. Seeing him thank his mother, his family, his friends, Moustapha, everyone who was there… It was a wonderful moment.”
Upamecano and Dembélé could potentially face each other again this season, depending on how far their respective clubs go in the Champions League. When that happens, all bets are off. In the meantime, this little anecdote shows that these players are human, and have a history that stretches beyond the football pitch.
