Platini pays tribute to Carlo Molinari, the executive who missed him at 18

Carlo Molinari, emblematic figure of French football and former president of FC Metz, passed away Wednesday at the age of 93. Michel Platini, three-time Ballon d’Or winner, immediately reacted to the death of the man he considered a monument in his life.

« He is a monument in my life. It is difficult to put into words what united us. He was close to me, I was close to him », Platini said in comments relayed by L’Équipe. A closeness that was both human and geographical: Carlo Molinari lived in the village next to that of the Platini family, anchoring their relationship in a shared history of nearly sixty years.

« Carlo left us at 93, which means he accompanied me for nearly 60 years. He represents my love of football, my childhood dreams. He made Metz a wonderful club », added the former number 10 of the French national team.

This link with FC Metz carries a cruel irony: in the early 1970s, a Platini aged less than 18 went to the club to undergo medical examinations before signing. The club doctor then declared him unfit for top-level football, suspecting a heart problem. What would remain one of the greatest recruitment failures in French football history left Molinari with a lasting bitter taste — without ever damaging the relationship between the two men.

« Carlo lived in the village next to my family’s. He represents my entire history. Today, there are many memories, of course, but also much sadness », concluded Platini, with whom a chapter of life closes with the passing of the Metz executive.