Arno Calimuendo is one of the most exciting young strikers in France and he is just one of 10 players in Ligue 1 to have scored in double figures in the league this season. He also has a very good chance of being the striker to lead the French men’s team at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Olympics that will be held in his hometown. Kalimuendo talks about this in an exclusive interview. As we all know, the percentage of young children who make it to the top level and play as professional footballers is quite low.
But the odds of turning pro and then playing in the Olympics in your hometown? It’s pretty rare now.
But it could still be a dream come true for Stade Rennais striker Arnaud Calimuendo in Ligue 1. Born in Suren, a suburb west of Paris, Calimuendo has the chance to represent his nation at the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics, having been part of some of the youth teams that were preparing for the tournament.
Speaking exclusively to French Eurosport’s Martin Mosnier for TNT Sports, Kalimuendo was asked about the upcoming Games.
“I will not say the most important thing,” said Calimuendo. “But as athletes, we all dreamed of participating in such competitions.
“But today I belong to the club and we will see what happens. I will respect the club’s decision. As a player, it’s a wonderful competition to play in, especially in Paris for someone from the suburbs. It would be fantastic to be able to play in the Olympics, but we’ll see…
“Right now I’m really focused on Stade Rennais and what I have to do, it’s taking up so much of my head… I think about it every day. After that, we’ll see. Everything in its own time, but right now Stade Rennais comes first”. The men’s team of France will be coached at the tournament by another kid from Paris and a true legend of the national team, Thierry Henry.
“I really learn a lot every day,” says Kalimuendo about the former Arsenal and Barcelona forward, “and it’s a big advantage to have a player, or a coach, like him. He was a fantastic player. I used to watch him on YouTube, and now he gives me advice…
“I was too young to really know him as a player in his prime. But as a Frenchman, it’s like Zinedine Zidane – we all know who those players are who have marked the history of French football. Henry, he really made an impression on me because I watched all your actions on YouTube.
Calimuendo was asked if Henry as a striker is tougher on him and the other strikers, to which he says: “No, he is demanding with everyone and we feel the same with his staff. We all have to perform at a certain level.”
He also added that he is not worried about the possibility of Henry using one of his three senior spots on a more experienced striker.
“No, no fear. I am just one player among many and the most important is the national team, the French national team.
“The coach has the duty to make the right choices for the team. And we have to accept them. After that, I’m aware of my abilities and I’m not afraid of anyone.”
And what about the Olympics as a whole? What does he think of when he thinks of G ames?
“I think of Usain Bolt, 100 meters, basketball and the dream team. It makes me dream. I’ve never seen Michael Jordan or anyone from his generation in person, but it would be great to be able to face the current crop of legends coming to Paris.
Kalimuendo also had high praise for his young team-mate Desire Doue, who could also be in Henry’s squad and has been linked with a host of big clubs across Europe. “He’s really… pffft. It is difficult to describe such a player because he has so many qualities.
“He sees everything very quickly, is very intelligent and respectful as a young man.
“He has everything he needs to reach a very, very high level. It is up to him to build on this good season, because football consists of repetition, repetition and repetition. “His fate is in his own hands, but today it’s a great pleasure to see him playing and enjoying himself.”
Is he the best Kalimuendo has seen in those years?
“Honestly, I knew a lot of them. I would put it in my top three or five. There’s Warren Zaire-Emery, Leni Joro, Eduardo Kamavinga and him in my top four, that’s for sure.
Kalimuendo himself has been in good form recently, scoring four goals in his last three games, doing his best to help Rennes climb the table after a difficult first half of the season.
He can’t pinpoint exactly what happened, but he’s sure confidence plays a big part. “I don’t know how to explain it, it’s something that’s in me. I felt the time was right for me to take on this role, given what was at stake at the end of the season. I just want to win, and I go out on the field with the desire to destroy everything.
“Now I’m able to be decisive, which I lacked a little before.” I’m very happy because it helps the team, and I owe it to myself to continue like this, because there’s one match left this weekend and I’ll give it everything I’ve got to try to secure a place in Europe.
“I would go so far as to say that confidence makes up 70% of our abilities.