Former Ukrainian national team goalkeeper Maxim Levytsky, who has experience playing in the French championship with Saint-Étienne, shared his thoughts on Iliya Zabarnyi’s transfer to PSG.
— Maxim Anatoliyovych, bonjour, as they greet in France. In your opinion, how quickly can Iliya Zabarnyi adapt at PSG and become one of the team under Luis Enrique?
— To put it mildly, it’s not an easy question. First of all, it’s very important how the team receives Iliya from the very first day, from the very first training. It’s important that Zabarnyi did not move to PSG from a Ukrainian club but from another European club, an English club; this is a significant point. Because, playing for Bournemouth, Iliya learned English, and I’m sure this language is the basis for communication in the Parisian team, where players from all corners of the world are gathered. Therefore, Zabarnyi should not have a language barrier, and thus no problems with understanding Luis Enrique and his new teammates.
It will not be easy for Zabarnyi to become a leader at PSG, but he was acquired for a reason. Such money, 63 million euros, is not thrown out even by the billionaire owners of the Paris club.
But, again, it’s very good that Zabarnyi has the experience of playing in the best league in the world — the EPL. I have seen matches where Iliya "turned off" stars like Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) or Erling Haaland (Manchester City). Therefore, Zabarnyi will not be intimidated even being in the environment of PSG stars; moreover, he will play in one team with the biggest stars of Ligue 1.
I think Zabarnyi will not find it difficult to adapt to PSG psychologically. By the way, I read information that he has already followed all his new teammates on Instagram, and they have followed him back. The process has begun. (Smiles).
If something doesn’t go very well for Zabarnyi on the football field in the first months at PSG, he shouldn’t focus too much on that but should play calmly, keep working, listen to Luis Enrique, fulfill his requirements — and everything will turn out for him. I believe in Zabarnyi. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for him.
— When you played in France, PSG was not as powerful a club as it is now, but even then the Parisians had stars. Who stood out to you or gave you a tough time?
— Nicolas Anelka. We lost in Paris 1:5, and he scored two goals against me. (Smiles).
You are right that there were enough stars at PSG then, but when did PSG "explode"? As soon as the superstar went to "Real" [Kylian Mbappe].
Luis Enrique has gathered a collective, as Valery Lobanovsky once said — not a team of stars, but a star-team. And this also plays into Zabarnyi’s hands, as there are cool players in the squad, but not megastars like Mbappe. It will be easier for Iliya in such a structure.
—Also, I think it’s good for Zabarnyi that Kvicha Kvaratskhelia is currently playing at PSG. Although he’s not from the same country, he can communicate comfortably in Russian, which is understandable for Iliya. Again, this will help him to integrate into the team faster.
— Kvaratskhelia won’t speak Russian, for some reason I think so. I remember when I just came to Saint-Étienne, we played against Amsterdam’s Ajax. And there was one Georgian among them, I don’t remember who....
— Shota Arveladze?
— Exactly! So, after the game, we didn’t speak Russian with him; we exchanged a few words in English.
— I can’t help but ask you lastly about the Russian Matviy Safonov. Will PSG part ways with him, or was it all a bluff that they are ready to drive the Russian out for the sake of Zabarnyi?
— I am subscribed to quite a few French sports media outlets on social networks. And the other day in Le Parisien, I read that PSG has already signed Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier (he played for PSG in yesterday’s UEFA Super Cup match against Tottenham, — ed. note). At first, I thought: why? There’s Donnarumma and this Russian. And then I realized — PSG will drive Safonov out, and all this is not gossip, most likely.
— Will Zabarnyi like life in Paris, what do you think? Fine cuisine, good wine, mentality — what might really appeal to our Ukrainian brother in France?
— I lived 500 kilometers south of Paris, and France is a big country, and it’s impossible to compare Marseille and Toulouse or Bordeaux and Strasbourg.
— Hard to disagree.
— So, I did not live in Paris permanently, but I was there often, and all I can say is — the city is very noisy, football-centric. And perhaps Zabarnyi will enjoy being recognized everywhere, or maybe not. If Iliya becomes one of the boys at PSG and demonstrates good play, he will be carried around there.
However, when you can’t take a step without giving an autograph or taking a selfie… This can be overwhelming. It’s good that you can order food from the supermarket through a courier.
As for the mentality, the French are very friendly. I once walked with my family in the countryside, not in the city, and people greet you and say hello: bonjour-bonjour.
Viktor Glukhentiy