In recent weeks, it is common to meet Josuha Guilavogui in Toulon. Less in Valletta “where the president of the club [l’]went off the field, which put me back on the ground”, laughs the player today. Free since June after nine years at Wolfsburg – interspersed with a six-month loan to Bordeaux – the French international midfielder or defender (7 caps) trains alone, often under the orders of his uncle, Momo Aït-Hida, former trainer at Sporting.
At almost 33 years old, and for the first time in his career, he finds himself without a club when the championships resume. Unpublished, but hardly stressful for Guilavogui, who claims to have many keys. He just doesn’t want to rush before embarking on one last adventure, football and human. In Europe? In the Gulf? In Australia? The Toulonnais does not dismiss any track.
How do you handle training on your own for the first time?
It’s weird not to be nurtured anymore, because you have to take care of yourself. But I show discipline, it’s my German side! I followed the program given for the holidays by Wolfsburg. And I’m lucky to be well surrounded in Toulon (1).
With a recognized coach like Momo Aït-Hida…
I’ve known him forever! He was the director of the summer camp where I went as a teenager, he instilled a lot of values in me. I came to him and said to him: “Uncle, give me workouts.” There is athletics, football and physical preparation. That’s horrible, but I need it, because I’m a needy player more than a talented one. I have friends who come to sweat with me too, they give me strength. When I find a club, I will not be behind, except for the rhythm. I have ants in my legs.
Guilavogui is perfecting his physical preparation under the orders of Momo Aït-Hida.
In recent weeks, it is common to meet Josuha Guilavogui in Toulon. Less in Valletta “where the president of the club [l’]went off the field, which put me back on the ground”, laughs the player today. Free since June after nine years at Wolfsburg – interspersed with a six-month loan to Bordeaux – the French international midfielder or defender (7 caps) trains alone, often under the orders of his uncle, Momo Aït-Hida, former trainer at Sporting.
At almost 33 years old, and for the first time in his career, he finds himself without a club when the championships resume. Unpublished, but hardly stressful for Guilavogui, who claims to have many keys. He just doesn’t want to rush before embarking on one last adventure, football and human. In Europe? In the Gulf? In Australia? The Toulonnais does not dismiss any track.
How do you handle training on your own for the first time?
It’s weird not to be nurtured anymore, because you have to take care of yourself. But I show discipline, it’s my German side! I followed the program given for the holidays by Wolfsburg. And I’m lucky to be well surrounded in Toulon (1).
With a recognized coach like Momo Aït-Hida…
I’ve known him forever! He was the director of the summer camp where I went as a teenager, he instilled a lot of values in me. I came to him and said to him: “Uncle, give me workouts.” There is athletics, football and physical preparation. That’s horrible, but I need it, because I’m a needy player more than a talented one. I have friends who come to sweat with me too, they give me strength. When I find a club, I will not be behind, except for the rhythm. I have ants in my legs.
Time is running out, right?
When I see the list of free players, I can’t complain (shows on his phone): De Gea, Sergio Ramos, Alexis Sanchez, Hazard, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Bakayoko… Well, Guilavogui, he can wait, right? I have the luxury of being able to take the time. And to decide what I want to do, which is not given to everyone.
Is your agent not pressuring you?
I don’t have an agent! I work with a lawyer, yes, but it’s me who chooses, I value this freedom. And in the end, if I make a mistake, I want to be able to look myself in the mirror rather than blame someone else.
Like your signature in the winter of 2022 in Bordeaux, relegated to L2 a few months later?
It wasn’t such a bad choice. I projected myself there. I learned a lot from this experience, it shaped me. Without Bordeaux, my relationship with Wolfsburg would not have been so good and I would not have known the same end there.
Why not extend to Wolfsburg?
Since I left, everyone thinks I quit football (laughs). It was a choice, the end of an adventure. However, Wolfsburg offered me a two-year contract with retraining. At the dawn of my 33 years, the head told me to stay, to finish at the club… The decision was not easy, but I felt that I was going back down (in the hierarchy) and I am not a player who will stay just to take a salary. I would rather leave and have people hold me down than with a kick in the ass. Moreover, my children and my companion had already returned to Toulon.
From which you risk leaving sooner or later…
It’s a shame because we live in an exceptional region. But it’s time to see something else. I’ve had quite a few touches, but not yet the one where my heart tells me: “Joss, come on, for your last contract, that’s where you want to go.” I know that I will make the right decision, for me and my family.
What will be your next destination then?
I had offers everywhere: in Spain, in Italy (in Genoa, editor’s note)in Germany (Hertha Berlin)… In MLS too, but I’m not a fan of America, Australia and the Middle East (Qatar, Emirates, Saudi Arabia). There was even a proposal in Russia which, given the amount, normally signs with closed eyes. But I couldn’t see myself going to a country at war. Between the political context and the fact that I have a humanitarian foundation (in Guinea)it was contradictory.
And Saudi Arabia, would that pose a moral problem for you too?
Human rights are not applied everywhere either. The country is trying to open up and I think it needs football, the one that brings together young people, regardless of their color, religion or social category. The Saudis understood it, they did not only take Muslim players. I had discussed it with Bafé Gomis (passed through Al-Hilal between 2018 and 2022), Catholic like me and who was an idol there. We must leave football in its place.
The Saudis recruited with a vengeance this summer. What inspires you?
They have completely redefined the football market. What is surprising is that they manage to take top players who are not finished at big clubs. Benzema, Kanté, Fabinho, Henderson, Mané… Cristiano Ronaldo said it, but Bafé Gomis had already warned at the time: “You will see, Saudi Arabia is taking on another dimension and it will be more and more followed.” He was right.
Their offers are not refused financially…
The economic factor is important, but the experience to live and my family too. The offers I got there were from clubs in the desert. But I need to be in a city to put my children in an international school.
Is Ligue 1 possible?
After the Bordeaux experience, I find it hard to imagine going back to a French context.
So you won’t be playing against your little brother, Morgan…
He signed for Lens and it’s an important step to play at the highest level. It is a great pride. Even if I started younger than him in L1, seeing him like that reminded me of me when I started. I went to see him with my family. The stadium was sold out for a friendly match against Torino, it was incredible. He had found us nice places. It’s weird because it was more like me who used to do that for him and my loved ones. Time, it passes eh (laughs)!
1. In addition to Momo Aït-Hida, he cites Laurent Bonnet and his team (physio-ostheo), Dr Raymond and Emmanuel Milleliri, his coach at the Platinium room…
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