Arnaud Pouille, Executive President – CEO of Stade Rennais F.C.:
"Stade Rennais F.C. is proud and delighted to see Ousmane honored with the most prestigious individual award. This is a historic moment for Rennes’ academy. We obviously congratulate him and thank him warmly.
This Ballon d’Or recognizes his exceptional talent, his dedication, and his unconditional love for the game and the ball. It also rewards the commitment of all those who have built and continue to build the Rouge et Noir academy.
His outstanding career is a tremendous source of pride for the entire club. Like other great names developed at Rennes, Ousmane embodies the excellence of our academy and the importance of our commitment to young talent. It is clear proof of the direction the club has pursued for nearly five decades and of the remarkable work accomplished by our scouts, coaches, and the staff of ETP Odorico.
An inspiration, alongside players like Désiré Doué, Eduardo Camavinga, and many others… He reminds us that passion and hard work make great achievements possible. At Stade Rennais, every young player can believe in a bright future—now even brighter."
It’s a fitting recognition of the dedication of the coaches and all the management teams who have contributed over the years.
Denis Arnaud, Academy Director:
"The training center has been around for almost fifty years. This is a wonderful reward for all the work carried out by the coaches and every management team that has been involved. It highlights our approach: developing players to break into the first team and then grow at the biggest European clubs. Hard work pays off.
It’s the success of a club, combining the recruitment department led by Philippe Barraud, the Academy and its coaches, and the professional staff who trust young players and give them the opportunity to reach the very highest level.
It’s an exceptional title that resonates with our current academy players. It’s a chance for us to engage with them and remind them of the ingredients needed to achieve their goals. It’s a tremendous source of inspiration. The journey is not easy, but success is possible when you come through Stade Rennais."
Jean Baillif, President of the Stade Rennais F.C. Association:
"This is a reward for all the members of our Academy, the various staff, and the coaches who played a role in his development. It’s also a wonderful gift for all the volunteer leaders who supported him throughout his time at the center. It’s a great example of a player who has not forgotten his formative club, as shown by his visit, alongside Désiré Doué, to our locker room at the Stade de France on the eve of the Gambardella final to greet our young Rouge et Noir players. It is very moving for the entire Academy, as it confirms the long-standing, in-depth work that has been carried out.
We must also acknowledge our volunteer leaders, who through their dedication become confidants, members of a second family for the Academy players, investing themselves every week to prepare and ensure the smooth organization of matches."
Without this competitive spirit, he might not be where he is today—he always wants to win.
Gerzino Nyamsi, trained at SRFC, 38 professional appearances:
"I’m not surprised. I knew him as a youngster—he was very talented, already very impressive. From the very beginning, you could see he had extraordinary ability. I’m really happy for him; he has a strong character that allowed him to reach this level and overcome difficult challenges. I truly want to congratulate him.
We met when we were 13 or 14, and he always had that competitive spirit, that desire to win, with a real ability to change matches. Being able to express his talent without being held back by pressure is also one of his strengths.
We have a lot of shared memories from our youth. He turned many games around and outclassed numerous defenders. I remember a tournament in Monaco, I think at U16 level—he was very impressive against strong teams. I spent a lot of time walking and talking with him; he’s a wonderful person, natural, very simple, who also knows what he wants. He’s very intelligent, and you can see it on the field through his movement, his style of play, and his anticipation.
His ability to be decisive is what pushed him into another dimension. In football, we focus a lot on statistics. Beyond his talent, he added to his arsenal the ability to score in almost every match, which propels him among the very best. Ousmane is a competitor, even though that’s not always the image he projects. Without this competitive spirit, he might not be where he is today—he always wants to win."
Joris Gnagnon, trained at SRFC, 110 professional appearances:
"It’s both crazy to see him win the Ballon d’Or and, at the same time, I’m not surprised. I had the chance to play with him, to make my professional debut alongside him, and honestly, he was already a future Ballon d’Or winner—an immense talent.
Ousmane has always had a sense for goal, with the ability to set up plays in optimal conditions and to be precise with his passes. Recently, he has truly developed that clinical aspect, becoming a special player, among the best in the world.
You should know that Ousmane is first and foremost a very serious player, always wanting to win, and quickly focused when competition approaches. Even as a youngster, he was already taking responsibility. When he joined the professional squad, he didn’t hesitate to speak up while remaining close to the senior players, who naturally recognized his qualities. What amazed me was his way of encouraging others, staying positive, and pushing me a lot when we played together.
It was definitely better to be on his team in training (laughs). Ousmane has that special touch that can tip the balance toward victory.
The first time I saw him was in the cafeteria. He was already sitting there, and I’d heard so much about him. I see this slim young guy and think, ‘Wait, is that him?’ And Gerzino tells me, yes, that’s him. I sit down across from Ousmane, we look at each other and burst out laughing—we had never spoken before. That’s how our friendship started, with so much in common and many good moments shared."
