Young PSG Player Hermann Malonga Moves to Strasbourg
Listen to the story
French football club Strasbourg has signed young player Hermann Malonga from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). Malonga was a titi at PSG, meaning he trained with the club from a young age.
The move was reported by the football website Foot Mercato. It described the transfer as Strasbourg 'taking' a player away from PSG, showing that the deal was seen as a win for Strasbourg.
This type of news is common during the mercato, the period when clubs across France and Europe buy and sell players. During this time, many transfers take place between clubs looking to improve their teams.
For PSG, losing a titi can be seen as a loss, since young players from the club's academy are often seen as future stars. The academy is where PSG trains its youngest talents before they move up to the main team.
By joining Strasbourg, Malonga leaves the Parisian club behind to start a new chapter in his football career. Strasbourg, a club based in eastern France, will now hope the young player can help strengthen their squad.
No further details about the transfer, such as the fee or contract length, were included in the original report. The story focused mainly on the fact that Strasbourg had successfully secured the young player's signature.
Vocabulary6 words
- Strasbourg
- a football club from the city of Strasbourg in France
- Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)
- a very famous and important football club based in Paris
- titi
- a player who has trained at a club since childhood
- mercato
- the period when football clubs buy and sell players
- transfers
- when a player moves from one club to another
- academy
- a place where young players are trained by a club
Quiz
Answer key
1. Strasbourg 2. A player trained by the club since childhood 3. False
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
French football club Strasbourg has signed young player Hermann Malonga from Paris Saint-Germain _____.
Malonga was a _____ at PSG, meaning he trained with the club from a young age.
The move was reported by the football website _____.
It described the transfer as Strasbourg 'taking' a player away from PSG, showing that the deal was seen as a _____ for Strasbourg.
This type of news is common during the _____, the period when clubs across France and Europe buy and sell players.
For PSG, losing a titi can be seen as a loss, since young players from the club's _____ are often seen as future stars.
By joining Strasbourg, Malonga leaves the Parisian club behind to start a new _____ in his football career.
No further details about the transfer, such as the fee or contract length, were included in the original _____.
Discussion questions
- Why might losing a 'titi' be seen as a bigger loss for a club than losing another player?
- What are the benefits for a young player of moving from a big club like PSG to a smaller club like Strasbourg?
- How important is the transfer window for football clubs?
- Do you think academies are a good way for clubs to develop new talent? Why or why not?