Back in the France squad and playing regularly for Tottenham, Moussa Sissoko is a different man these days.
He seems happy.
Long gone seem the frustrated interviews that popped up here and there in the French media last year, replaced instead by a man who wants to make a difference on and off the pitch.
Focusing on the latter during an interview with L’Equipe, the Tottenham midfielder explained all about EuropaCity, a project he was made ambassador of with a goal to create an area dedicated to activities, sports, tourism, culture and commerce near where he grew up.
He said: “I’m passionate about the project as it’s a vital energy in the area where I come from. For young kids from Gonesse, Aulnay-sous-Bois, Blanc-Mesnil, Sarcelles (where Riyad Mahrez grew up) or Villiers-le-Bel, it’s a chance to get a formation, a job or a hope of getting out of there.
“And with the equipment they have, it’s the whole image of the area that’s going to change in one go. It’s important to restore hope for people”.
Already over 10 years in the planning, construction is said to hopefully start in 2019 with an aim of getting the development completed in 2024, the same year the Olympics are set to take place in Paris.
More than €3bn will be invested into the project, with restaurants, shows, a shopping centre and even an indoor waterpark in the works.
