A few hours before the Champions League clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Atlético de Madrid this Wednesday evening (8 p.m., UT) at the Parc des Princes, the Madrid players will be able to count on the support of a group of faithful Parisians. These supporters, far from being limited to geographical ties, fully embrace their passion for the Spanish club.
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There are around twenty of them gathered behind the security barriers of a Parisian palace. While waiting in the cold, they exchange a few words with the police officers present. Their only expectation: to see their idols. This group is the “Peña Rojiblanca Francesa”, which brings together Parisian (and other origins) supporters of Atlético de Madrid. After many minutes, a club representative came to welcome them: “ Today, you will be able to meet Griezmann and Lenglet », he tells them. The excitement can be read on the faces, notably that of Zoé, who says she “ started supporting Atlético for Griezmann » in 2014. The 2018 world champion is a real star with his French fans.
At the origins of the group
Moved, Rodolphe, founder of La Peña, remembers “ how far we’ve come in one year, it’s still crazy “. However, nothing predestined this group president to support the Colchoneros (the nickname of Atlético players). In 1990, while a schoolboy in Clamart, he took advantage of a school exchange to go to Majadahonda, in the suburbs of Madrid. There, his host family, a fervent supporter of Real Madrid, took him to watch a match at the Santiago Bernabéu. Rodolphe, who had little interest in football at the time, did not have memorable memories of it and did not get along with his Spanish correspondent.
The following year, however, he returned to Majadahonda and this time was welcomed into a family “ of enormous kindness and generosity », Unconditional fan of Atlético de Madrid. They tell him about the club, invite him to come back, and take him to Vicente Calderón, the old Colchoneros stadium. “ I liked the atmosphere, the fans. I fell in love with their way of playing “. Never forgetting Atléti, Rodolphe subscribed to the Parc des Princes to live his new passion until 2006, when he created this Peña. Due to lack of support and time, however, he struggled to keep it active until, last year, rojiblanco fans from the “Atleti Francia” Twitter account contacted him. Thanks to this impetus, La Peña was reborn and today has more than 30 members.
“ The club that gives you emotions… »
Driven by the enthusiasm of the young members of Atleti Francia, Rodolphe regains a taste for these gatherings. La Peña now meets in a bar to follow (almost) every Atlético match. For Raphaël, a supporter for over 50 years, this change is significant: “ Before, I watched the matches alone. My friends are for PSG, OM, French clubs, so I’m really happy to be able to share Atlético matches with friends. »
When Antoine Griezmann and Clément Lenglet enter the meeting room, the faces of these French supporters light up. This Wednesday evening, they will be in the visitor’s park to support Atlético. The meeting is brief, the photos follow one another, but for some, it’s a dream come true. Raphael admits: “ I was very shy, but it was great. »
Supporting a club isn’t just about trophies or the city you come from
When we ask these fans – some of whom don’t speak a word of Spanish – to explain their attachment to the club, they all say it: nothing obliges them to support the club in their city. Whether by a family member, a trip to Spain or a player, “ the club that gives you emotions is not necessarily the club in your city », Says Nahidul, co-founder of Atleti Francia. For Zoé, “ Supporting a club isn’t just about the trophies or the city you come from, and that’s why I chose Atlético. »
A minority passion
In France, Atlético supporters are rare, but this Wednesday evening, this handful of enthusiasts will be present at the Parc des Princes, hoping for a victory for the Madrilenians, while recognizing the quality of the Parisian squad. For Rodolphe and Raphaël, “ It’s difficult to know who will win, it’s going to be a very close match. » Nahidul concludes: “ I’m not completely calm, but I’m pretty sure we can get a result » and predicts a 2-1 victory for his favorite club.
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