Newcastle United winger Allan Saint-Maximin was better than other young talents during his time at AC Boulogne-Billancourt’s academy
This is detailed in today’s L’Equipe, when they discuss the career of Borussia Mönchengladbach star Marcus Thuram.
The Newcastle player was at Boulogne-Billancourt’s academy between 2007 and 2011. Thuram joined a year before that and left them in 2012.
Saint-Maximin moved to Saint-Étienne, AS Monaco and OGC Nice before arriving at the Tyneside club in 2019. The striker, on the other hand, joined the Bundesliga side in 2019 after spells at Sochaux and Guingamp.
Those who saw the duo closely at Boulogne-Billancourt state Saint-Maximin was a better talent than the Gladbach frontman.
“Technically, he was average for the team, nothing more, he was a bit of a diesel engine, (Allan) Saint-Maximin (Newcastle) was much more explosive,” says Boulogne-Billancourt sports coordinator Gilles Bibé.
Rodez midfielder Lorenzo Rajot also gave his take on the duo: He said: “With his imposing size, his one-on-one abilities and his rhythm Marcus did us good. But Saint-Maximin was far above the lot.”
The Newcastle attacker hasn’t done enough so far to receive a call up from the France senior team while Thuram has made nine appearances for Les Bleus. The latter is currently being courted by top Europe clubs as his contract at Mönchengladbach expires in June.
