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Matteo GuendouziFrench footballer, midfielder
Date of Birth: 14.04.1999
Country:  France |
Content:
- A Rising Star: The Life and Career of Matteo Guendouzi
- Career Beginnings
- Breakthrough at Arsenal
- Premier League Success
- National Team Involvement
- Controversy and Departure from Arsenal
- FA Cup Triumph
- Achievements
- Guendouzi is playable in the FIFA 20 video game.
A Rising Star: The Life and Career of Matteo Guendouzi
Early Life and ChildhoodMatteo Guendouzi was born on April 14, 1999, in Poissy, France. His parents, originally from Morocco, had moved to France in search of a better life. Guendouzi spent his childhood in Poissy, surrounded by his family and immersed in football. His early passion for the sport was fueled by his father and the legendary players Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry. Guendouzi's unwavering support for Arsenal began at a young age, and he dreamed of one day playing for the club.
Career Beginnings
In 2005, Guendouzi joined the Paris Saint-Germain academy, just 29 minutes from his home. In 2014, he switched to the Lorient Academy. During the 2015/2016 season, he played for Lorient B and made his debut in a match against Romorantin. Guendouzi's talent soon earned him a promotion to the first team, and on October 15, 2016, he came on as a substitute for Walid Mesloub in a Ligue 1 match against Nantes.
Breakthrough at Arsenal
On July 11, 2018, during the summer transfer window, Arsenal announced that they had signed Guendouzi from Lorient. The transfer fee was undisclosed but was reported to be around £7 million plus bonuses. Arsenal manager Unai Emery expressed his delight at the signing, stating that Guendouzi was a "talented young player" and "has great potential."
Guendouzi made his debut for Arsenal in a friendly match against Boreham Wood on July 14, wearing the number 29 shirt previously worn by captain Granit Xhaka. In a meeting with his former club, Paris Saint-Germain, in Singapore on July 28, Guendouzi impressed and helped Arsenal secure a 5-1 victory.
Premier League Success
On August 12, Guendouzi made his Premier League debut against reigning champions Manchester City, making the most touches of any player on the pitch with 72. He was subsequently voted Arsenal's Player of the Month for August, beating Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Petr Cech. On October 4, Guendouzi scored his first professional goal in a match against Qarabağ, assisted by Alexandre Lacazette.
National Team Involvement
Guendouzi has represented France at the under-18, under-19, under-20, and under-21 levels. In September 2019, he was called up to the senior squad to replace the injured Paul Pogba for the Euro 2020 qualifiers against Albania and Andorra. However, he did not make an appearance on the field.
Controversy and Departure from Arsenal
On June 20, 2020, Guendouzi was involved in a heated exchange with Neal Maupay and two other Brighton players. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta subsequently suspended him from first-team training and stated that the player would not return until he had "addressed the issue." In the aftermath of the incident, rumors circulated that Arsenal was interested in offloading Guendouzi, with Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, and Barcelona expressing interest.
FA Cup Triumph
On August 1, Arsenal won the FA Cup for a record 14th time, defeating Chelsea 2-1. Guendouzi was an unused substitute in the final.
Achievements
2019/20 FA Cup winner with ArsenalInteresting Facts
Upon joining Lorient, Guendouzi was quickly compared by his teammates to fellow Frenchman Adrien Rabiot.
Following France's victory in the 2015 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, Guendouzi was nicknamed "David Luiz."
Despite interest from Morocco's national team manager Hervé Renard, Guendouzi remained loyal to France.
