AS the subject of a fascinating documentary entitled 'The Man Who Will Be Worth Billions', Vincent Péricard recalls how he moved to Turin and joined a squad boasting the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Edgar Davids and David Trezegut.
"I knew I was good, but I never dreamed- or expected- to be picked up by Juventus," Vincent recalls. "I didn't feel any pressure but, looking back, maybe it was because I was 18 and naïve.
“Zidane, I remember, moving past me with the ball so effortlessly, as if he was flying, while Del Piero's first touch was absolutely faultless."
Vincent eventually became the top scorer of The Bianconeri's second string and made his first team debut in the 2002 Champions League. However, things quickly fell apart for Vincent after a night out with fellow academy players, Aboubacar Fofana and Frantz Bertin, who decided to invite their Italian tutor along.
Within moments of sending a text to her, Vincent received a phone call from a Juventus director, demanding why he had invited his girlfriend out.
A few days later, all three players were shipped out of the club on loan, with Vincent joining Harry Redknapp's Portsmouth on loan.
"The text message did not go down well at all. Later, one of the directors called me into his office and told me I was going to England. It was the end of my time at Juventus.
I didn't do anything malicious, and Juventus' reaction was excessive. It was a shock to the system."
Following spells with several clubs, Vincent began to struggle off the field, fighting alcohol and gambling addictions. He even contemplated suicide after being diagnosed with depression.
After retiring from football in 2011, Vincent went on to earn a first-class degree in business enterprise development, followed by a master’s in accounting and finance. He also set up a management company, which supports foreign players moving to Britain for the first time.
Despite being in a much better place now than he was during his playing days, Vincent says he still has some regrets about how his playing career unfolded.
"There is so much more understanding about mental health today," he concluded. "I just wish I knew then what I know now.
"It would not only have helped me but others as well, who were going through the same struggles. I do wish I had never texted that Italian tutor, but I still think what happened after that was an overreaction." – Agencies, September 10, 2021
