Valbuena became known to the general public after one successful action for “Marseille”. At Anfield, in a Champions League match, Mathieu managed to score an amazingly beautiful ball from a long distance with the most severe pressure. Long before his triumph in Foggy Albion, Valbuena began his career at the Bordeaux club. Naturally, no one was waiting for the young guy as part of the "Girondins", he had to undergo practice in small club from Langon-Kastets. The Libourne Saint-Sorin team became his first professional place of work, after two successful seasons in the regular division, Mathieu became interested in Marseille. As part of the “Olympians” Valbuena revealed immediately after the club left the club Franck Ribery, who moved to the “Bavaria”. After Drogba and Ribery, Valbuena has become the third youth idol in recent years.

In Marseille, Valbuena was nicknamed "the little bike". "Small" - for its short stature (165 centimeters), and "bicycle" - for its explosive speed. After several successful seasons at “Marseille” Valbuena gave up a little, but in the championship season for the team 2009-2010 Valbuena was practically from start to finish on the field in the middle line. In the championship year, Mathieu broke the record for the number of goals (5) scored for “Marseille” (previously he did not play more than three goals in the championship). In 2009, Valbuena in all seriousness was ready to go to St. Petersburg “Zenith”, but the deal did not take place at the last moment. Knowledgeable people say that Mathieu was not happy with the policy of Zenit fans, who refuse to see a black player in their team's jersey. Valbuena himself grew up in a multinational country and regularly spends time in social actions against racism and nationalism. For today's Marseilles, the issue of racism is a problem that hasn't been eaten away. For another reason, the parties did not reach a financial agreement. In any case, Valbuena himself does not regret staying at the Velodrome. As part of “Marseille”, he won the first major award and was awarded a call to the world championship. In the first game for Blouse Forest, Valbuena brought the team a victory against Costa Rica with a mid-range shot. Better than others, his former mentor Eric Gerets speaks of Mathieu: "He has great talent. Mathieu is a very mobile player, but I see him in the central axis, not on the flank. He can move the field very quickly, he can play the role of a ringleader, although by nature he's more of a team guy. "

In the 2009/10 season, Valbuena became the champion of France in the “Marseille”, and also won the French League Cup for three years in a row. Under Laurent Blanc, Mathieu was consistently called up to the French national team and received an early ticket to EURO 2012.

Mathieu Valbuena: When we meet, I will shake Benzema's hand

- Since this season you have been playing for Fenerbahce. How would you rate your performance in the Turkish championship?
- The statistics speaks for itself - I scored 6 goals and made 15 assists in all tournaments. Although in the second round I began to receive less playing time.

- Do you think about changing the club?
- No, I don't think about it. I was lucky to play in a big club. And I admire the local fans. They are head over heels in love with football. I saw something similar in Marseilles. But in Turkey, the whole country is a fan of football. When I flew to Istanbul to sign the contract, a crowd of many thousands met me at the airport. This is where the fans are putting serious pressure on the team. If we end the season in second place, it will be a failure.

In the last round of the French championship, two of your former clubs met - Marseille and Lyon. Who were you rooting for?
- “Marseille” is my life. In this team, I grew up as a footballer, made a name for myself and spent the most best years his career. Even when I played at Lyon, I kept repeating that it was Marseille that was the team of my heart.

- And this after the fans of “Marseille” gave you a “warm welcome” in September 2015?
- If someone decided to boo me, good, but no one is able to erase the history of the club. I know I did a lot for Marseille. I have never deceived anyone. Someone was disappointed by the fact of my transfer to Lyon, but I can't do anything about it.

- You are one of the most controversial characters in French football. How do you explain this?
- Throughout my career, I have been used to dealing with circumstances. But I never gave up. I was moving forward all the time. There is no person who would be loved by everyone around. I would say that many people have short memories.

- At Lyon you also had problems ...
- My first season at Lyon was the most difficult of my career. Although at first things did not turn out so badly. Problems arose when they began to blackmail me (the story of Benzema - ed.).

- But last season you played great. What helped to regain its former shape?
- Many doubted my abilities, but not me. I was supported by the president of the club, Jean-Michel Olyas. And I am an emotional person, it influenced me in a positive way. In the summer of 2016, I told close people that I would prove to everyone that I am still able to play at a high level and I know what I need to do in order to continue to progress and improve. I believed and still believe that the cause of failure should be sought in yourself, and not in the coach or someone else.

- Have you come to terms with the fact that you will not go to the World Cup as part of the French national team?
- Of course. You need to really look at things. With age, you understand this more and more. In my head I replay my career, I remember what I managed to do. Playing for the national team is what I am proud of. This is the pinnacle of any footballer's career.

- How do you feel about the new generation?
- It is good that there are many young talents who are ready to tackle serious problems.

- Can the French national team win the World Championship in Russia?
- I will root for the national team, watching the matches on TV. As for her potential, she can go to the decisive stages, but, to be honest, the national teams of Germany, Brazil or Spain have a better chance of winning.

- How do you like Kilian Mbappe's performance?
- Back in December 2016, no one knew him. It became a real discovery of the last European season. But the category of top footballers includes those who have been proving their worth at the highest level for many years. What Kilian does at his age is, of course, amazing, but you should not expect miracles from him. He has a huge talent, but he hasn't proven anything yet. Give it time.

- And the last question: if you meet Karim Benzema on the pitch, will you shake his hand?
- Yes, no problem, I'll shake his hand.

source: "Soviet sport"

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Mathieu Valbuena: I am either loved or hated

According to ex-Dynamo midfielder Mathieu Valbuena, life is striped - sometimes a black stripe, sometimes a white one. As he admitted in an interview with the weekly France Football, now the black has come.

"AFTER THE INJURY, THE ATTITUDE TO ME CHANGED"

- Why in recent times you are not included in the basis of "Fenerbahce"?
- The beginning of the season turned out to be very successful for me. But in January there were some minor disagreements with the coach (Aykut Kojaman. - Ed. Note). Therefore, they began to let me out on the field less.

Articles | Valbuena: I came to Turkey not just to beat off the money and sunbathe in the sun

- What is the disagreement?
- I played, scored, assisted, my statistics were the best in the team. And suddenly I somehow lost confidence. At the end of the year I was injured, but Fenerbahce was doing well without me. I recovered, but I started to play less. It would be out of order - of course, you can sit on the bench. But here I just don't understand anything - why?

- You did not find out the reasons?
- They will always find something to say. It seemed like they were fighting for me, they wanted me to go over, and now you can't even really talk to them.

- Even so?
- After the injury, the attitude towards me changed. Although they cannot present any claims. As I was a professional, so I remain. Yes, there were conversations with the management, but all to no avail. In any case, I continue to work. I love this club, I really want to achieve something here. So far no one has said that I am not needed.

- According to rumors, in the winter you were supposed to move to China.
- Sometimes you hear so much nonsense! Why on earth did I have to go somewhere, and even at the height of the season! This is not my rule. Until my plans have changed, I want to play in Fenerbahce. But you don't have to renounce, anything can happen.

By the will of Fenerbahce's mentor Aykut Kojaman Valbuena (second from left) is increasingly listed on the bench. Photo Russian Look / Imago

"WHEN I PLAY, NOBODY REMEMBER MY AGE"

- All the time you have some problems ...
- It just so happens in life.

- Do you feel that after your move to Turkey, the fans began to forget you?
- Yes, I climbed a bit, but there is the Internet - the fans are watching me. In addition, the beIN Sports TV channel bought the rights to broadcast the Turkish championship. In France, they really talk less about me now. But I do not attach any importance to this, I do not need this popularity.

Valbuena's professional career began playing for the largest club in the Gironde, "Girondins de Bordeaux". After a year of work, Mathieu was expelled - for the same short growth; from the outside it strongly reminded the story of Sean Wright-Phillips of England's Nottingham Forest. After moving to the local club, "Langon-Castets", Valbuena impressed the talent specialists with his performance and very soon returned to a higher level, in "Libourne Saint-Seurin", in time for the national championship. During his two seasons at Libourne, he significantly improved his professional skills, playing fifty-three matches and scoring ten goals. His performance in the 2005-06 season - he scored 9 goals in 29 games - helped the team advance to the second league; however, they chose to go back the next season. Nevertheless, Mathieu got what he deserved - this season he was named "player of the year".

The success at Libourne has made Mathieu a much more sought-after player than ever before. On June 9, 2006, his cherished dream came true - to move to the first league; one of the biggest French teams - Olympique de Marseille - offered him a three-year contract.

Everything began in a new place not very well - Valbuena received a serious injury during summer training and, as a result, was forced to debut a little later than planned. Mathieu entered the field in the match against "Valenciennes". In total, he appeared 14 more times during the season, mostly as a replacement. He scored his first goal for Marseille in the eighty-sixth minute against Saint Etienne.

Having regained his health, Valbuena spent the next season much better; Franck Ribery's departure from the team also significantly increased Mathieu's value. They let him out on the field much more often; Valbuena lived up to this confidence in full, among other things, scoring a goal in the UEFA Championship League match against English club Liverpool in Anfield. It was this goal that brought the team a victory; the game ended 1: 0.

For excellent work, Mathieu received a contract extension; it was originally assumed that he would hold out in the team until 2010. The athlete signed a new extension in April 2008, this time until 2013.

Playing early in his career at low-level clubs, Mathieu did not attract the attention of the agents of the French national youth team. His impressive results at Marseille, however, changed the situation - he was contacted by Raymond Domenech himself, inviting Valbuena to the matches against England and Mali. Unfortunately, the athlete was injured again in training and had to miss these games.

Despite a rather successful season the following year - in particular, winning a series of games for the championship in the first league and for the League Cup, Valbuena was quite surprised when he was invited to the team preparing for the 2010 World Cup. Initially, there were 30 people in his group ; 23 were eliminated in preparation. Among the seven best was Mathieu. He made his international debut in a match against Costa Rica; the goal he scored decided the fate of the match.

At the moment, Valbuena is rightfully considered one of the most promising players as

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