Flamini reveals how studying during naps built his £10bn green energy empire

Mathieu Flamini, the former Arsenal and AC Milan midfielder who retired from football in 2020, has credited his habit of studying during downtime as the foundation of a business empire reportedly worth over £10 billion.

While teammates rested or played video games between training sessions and matches, Flamini was quietly building GF Biochemicals, a green energy company he co-founded in 2013. The firm specialises in the mass production of levulinic acid, a plant-based chemical with wide industrial applications, and Flamini ran it as CEO while still competing in Serie A — initially keeping the venture private.

“An athlete’s life revolves around training and matches, but also rest and recovery,” Flamini told L’Express. “That leaves time for naps; while some players might choose to play PlayStation or go shopping after a nap, I decided to take a different path, to learn and grow by helping to build this company.”

The 42-year-old said his environmental passion was rooted in childhood, when he would collect plastic from beaches with his father. That early awareness drove him to study the subject seriously rather than treat his downtime as pure leisure — a discipline he admits did not come easily.

“I had to educate myself, be extremely curious, and surround myself with the right people,” he said. “There’s a saying I like: if you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.”

Flamini acknowledged that chemistry and English — both central to his current role — were subjects he disliked at school, making the self-education required all the more deliberate.

On the pitch, the French international enjoyed a career most players would envy. He joined Arsenal from Marseille in 2004, won three FA Cups across two spells at the club, was named the Gunners’ player of the year, and featured in the 2006 Champions League final. A stint at AC Milan added a Serie A title to his collection.

Flamini insists the mental habits forged in professional sport translated directly into business. “From a very young age, I had the opportunity to understand the negative impact humans have on the planet,” he said. “I wanted to pursue this second passion alongside football. Having the chance to express myself off the pitch offers an escape, a way to clear my head.”