**Nashville SC's** debut in the **Leagues Cup 2023**, **Fafá Picault** entered in the 69th minute in a 2-1 victory over **Colorado Rapids**. A European-trained player, who trained with Kylan Mbappé, he returned to the United States in 2017 and has witnessed the "evolution" of soccer in North America.
Based on his recent time in American soccer, the chance to stand out isn’t just in Europe. Picault is a clear example of this. At first he had to go to Italy at the age of 16 to finish training as a professional and continue the family legacy: both his father and his grandfather were soccer players.
"Things have changed. Back then it was much more difficult to come to Europe as a young man. There were still a lot of stereotypes for American soccer players. It was very hard. I had an opportunity at Cagliari in 2007. I was on trial for a month and ended up passing. They took me at the age of 16 to play with the reserve team and that's where the adventure began," he recounted in an interview with the sports media GFFN.
After reaching the table to sign for PSG, he was rejected at the last minute due to the limit of the team's international player spots and Fafá decided to return to the United States in 2011:
"At that time, when I came back, it was a difficult league to play in, and you barely earned money. It was hard to go from being one of the best U-20 prospects not only for the national team, but also in Europe, to come back and earn little."
In January 2015 he had his second spell in Europe: he signed for Sparta Prague and then played in Germany until February 2017 when he returned to MLS. In recent years, the level of the game has improved in the United States, soccer stars have arrived to settle in the league, and the structure is very different from the one Picault played in the 1990s.
“My biggest goals with Nashville and what has kept me motivated is pride and respect for the game. It is my first love. I have a lot of confidence in myself to achieve it," he said while gaining minutes in this League Cup 2023 and seeking to establish himself in the starting XI and give Nashville SC its first title.
His relationship with Mbappé
Picault's aunt was a neighbor of French soccer player Joe Kobo, who was a close friend of Kylian Mbappé.
“We played a lot. Some of the best street soccer players I've ever seen. Joe and Kylian used to come over often when they were little just to sit and hang out. I didn't even remember that Kylian played ball like that”.
In addition, he remembers when he first saw him as a professional footballer.
“I saw a photo that Joe posted on Facebook when Kylian was in Monaco, I spoke briefly with him and I said: 'you are doing well!' Joe was playing for Caen at the time and I was very happy for both of them. A year later, the boy exploded! Now he is the Kylian we all talk about and know, so I'm very happy for him."
The arrival of stars like Lionel Messi to North America confirms the intuition of Fafá Picault, who will seek to fulfill all his wishes in this Leagues Cup 2023.
