Trained at FC Metz, Jérémie Gnali joined SD Tarazona last summer. The 20-year-old left-back has decided to launch his young career in Spain. Successful, the former number 10 is already in the sights of several La Liga clubs. Discovery interview.
Can you tell your journey?
I am from Sarcelles, I started football in a club near my city, Saint-Brice FC between U6 and U10. I then signed with AAS Sarcelles. My family moved to Saint-Ouen, I joined Racing, I stayed there for a season because it was too far from home, my mother couldn’t take me there. I wanted to go to Red Star, but the registrations were already closed. So I joined a small club playing in the district, USM Audonienne. Everything went well. And at the end of the season, my coach advised me to go to ASJ Aubervilliers in U15DH. Initially, I played in the position of number 10, but my coach, Joël Ribeiro repositioned me on the left side. I had two good years there. Afterwards, I went to JA Drancy to play in the U17 Nationals. Against the wishes of my club, which was blocking me, I did a test at FC Metz. Following that, Drancy no longer wanted me to play. So I decided to go to FC Montfermeil for the second half of the season. Everything went well, and afterwards, I left for FC Metz.
How was your arrival at FC Metz?
In Metz, I started with the Elite group, the U17s and the U19s, my preparation went well. I started with the Regional U18 and quickly moved up to the National U19s. The Covid then appeared, everything stopped. During the second year, there was no championship, we only did training because of the Covid. At the same time, a youngster from the club, Kiliann Sildillia, refused to sign his first professional contract at the club. The first team coach, Frédéric Antonetti, took this decision very badly. As a result, he decided to put aside the young people. We only went up to make small oppositions, nothing more.
How was your third season?
In the meantime, I lost my grandfather, who meant a lot to me. I watched my first matches with him. It was a real turning point in my life. I absolutely want to succeed for him and my family, I want to honor our name. So I started the third season injured, I missed the first games. I then launched my season in N2, I imposed myself, my style of play changed. I became a player capable of coaching a group, expressive on the pitch, I asserted myself. I made good progress. I was often sent to training with the pros. Despite everything, at the end of the season, I was told that I was not going to be kept. The others were affected, they no longer wanted to. Me, I tried to keep my head up to finish the season well. Eventually, we manage to hold on. And during an opposition with the pros, everything goes well. And there, I am told that there is a chance that I will stay at the club. So, I trust my trainers and I wait. Knowing that Standard de Liège offered me a three-year professional contract. But I give priority to my training club. And finally, my coaches tell me: “We keep you under amateur status”. I refused, I called Standard de Liège back, but the managers told me it was too late. I find myself in difficulty, I receive offers that do not suit me, so I refuse.
How did you manage this period?
I was waiting, my agents brought me offers from Greece and the Czech Republic. I tried it out, but I didn’t get hooked. I said to myself: “If I go there, it will be difficult to come back to a major championship”. So I returned to Paris, back to square one. I had to sign in Alcorcón, but the leaders were slow to send the documents. So I decided not to wait any longer and to join my current club, SD Tarazona, playing at a level equivalent to N2. You could say they saved me. For the moment, we are having a good season, with a very good coach, Javi Moreno, who was a very great player. He went through AC Milan or Atletico Madrid. I came across a good group with mature players who took me under their wing. They helped me a lot to fit in.
How is your season going?
I chain the matches, I have already played 21 matches. At the start, it was tough. I arrived without any real preparation, I had nothing to lose. You know, before signing, I was in my neighborhood, I was locked in my room. I never went out. When you come from a neighborhood, when you go out, everyone looks at you and starts saying: “But he shouldn’t have signed pro? What is he doing here? “. To avoid hearing this kind of thing, I preferred to stay locked up at home. I signed in Spain with the slab.
What are your goals ?
Liga and Liga 2 clubs are interested in me. The ideal would be to find a club of this level. In addition, you should know that when I arrived, the player playing in my position was the captain. I knew it was going to be difficult to play. I gave it my all, I showed that I had the level. And the coach integrated me little by little. And now everything is rolling. My coach often comes to tell me that clubs come and talk about me. It’s encouraging.
What paths inspire you?
Many players struggled before getting there, I am thinking in particular of Ribéry, Mahrez, Kanté, these players marked me. Especially Mahrez, he started at Sarcelles like me. He started in B, he took train tickets to do tests. He has a real journey. His journey gives me hope and strength. I want to follow in the footsteps of players like that, I want to give back to those who believed in me, especially my mother, my father, my big brother, my big cousin, my agents and my friends.
What type of side are you?
I am a counter-attacker, I like to go forward, I defend well too. I like to participate in team play. I like to have fun on the field. In my position, the player who makes me love is Marcelo.
