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Philippe Mexes: Gallic Gladiator
Philippe Mexes’ transfer to Roma looked like causing the club more problems than his ability merited. However, Richard Godden reveals that the French defender was well worth the hassle
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If I had been asked to write an article about Philippe Mexes two years ago, you would have been reading about what a waste of space the French defender was and how costly he had been to Roma. That’s hindsight for you though. As it is, the blond stopper is slowly but surely establishing himself as one of the best in Serie A, a League renowned for the quality of its centre-backs.
His arrival at the Stadio Olimpico in 2004 was controversial to say the least. Agreeing to join the Giallorossi while still under contract at Auxerre – who were desperate to sell him to Manchester United for around £10m – a tribunal eventually handed him a six-week ban, ordered Roma to pay the Ligue 1 outfit £6m in compensation and banned the capital boys from making any new signings for a year. It was a tough time for the youngster, but he had his reasons for snubbing the Old Trafford outfit.
“Guy Roux had wanted me to join United, but I wanted to make my own mind up,” he insisted. “I was concerned about moving directly from a tiny club like Auxerre to one of the world’s biggest. It would have been a huge jump. Also, Roma had made it clear that I was a priority for them and I was keen to play for Fabio Capello.”
Of course, Don Fabio soon jumped ship to join Juventus. Four different Coaches took charge in Mexes’ first campaign in the Eternal City and it was clear that he was struggling to settle. They went close to relegation – a fate they had only previously suffered once – and were fortunate to convince then Udinese boss Luciano Spalletti to revolutionise their squad. Mexes and Co haven’t looked back since.
“Things didn’t start off well,” he said. “I was in a new country with a language I didn’t understand and a new club to settle in to, so it wasn’t a surprise that my first season didn’t go as well as had been expected. But after an uphill struggle, things improved and everything changed – not only for me, but also for the whole team. For that, credit must go to the Coach and also my teammates.”
Growing up in the south-west of France, the No 5 could always be seen in the purple shirt of his beloved Toulouse from the age of eight. It wasn’t long before he was snapped up by Auxerre and he soon emulated the great Didier Deschamps in representing his country at every youth level. Despite his colleagues being humiliated by Javier Saviola at the World Youth Championship in Argentina, Mexes was one of the few players to emerge with any credit – particularly from foreign onlookers.
Indeed, he could have made the switch to Roma three years before he eventually did, as the newly-crowned Scudetto winners lined up a £10m bid for him. But Roux insisted that Mexes’ football education was not complete, so he remained with AJA. The youngster’s comments at the time revealed that he had a wise head on his shoulders. “Even if lunching with Roma’s directors, having a drink with Inter officials or being visited by Sir Alex Ferguson is exciting, I am aware of the fact that my value is surreal compared to what I have actually proved,” he said.
It hardly helped when someone as highly regarded as Laurent Blanc – who Mexes admits was his idol growing up – said: “I have never seen a player of this age develop with such defensive mastery, such technical understanding of the game.” So, inevitably, the comparisons with the World Cup and European Championship winner came flooding in. Perhaps it was Blanc’s disastrous spell with Manchester United which convinced Mexes to turn down them down in favour of a 2004 switch to Roma – although he is adamant that wasn’t the case.
“I didn’t feel the English side had the same interest that the Giallorossi had,” he said. “At that time Roma were already a big club, but they were under construction. In Italy I became stronger and I don’t know if this would have happened in England. Sir Alex gave me a United jersey with my name on it, which I will always keep, but I’m happy with the choice I made.”
And why wouldn’t he be? Aged 25, he forms part of the spine of a side competing on three fronts this term, while his international prospects are finally starting to look up after barely receiving so much of a call-up to Raymond Domenech’s squad since winning the Confederations Cup in 2003.
He puts that down to Roux though. “His influence in France is greater than mine,” Mexes bitterly admitted. “Playing for your country is an honour, so obviously I’m delighted to be back in the picture.” Perhaps most importantly, he is living in an environment just like his hometown.
“Rome is similar to Toulouse, which encompasses the warmth of southern Europeans,” he revealed. “The climate and the historical beauty make it a great city to live in. Romans are especially passionate and warm people, they support you through thick and thin.”
So what next for Mexes and Roma? Their impressive start to the Serie A campaign slowed up once the big boys came to town, but the French ace is adamant that they must improve on last season’s second place finish – which means one thing. “In the League we must be more consistent against the so-called minnows, as that is an area we have often struggled in,” he revealed. “Why can’t we win the Scudetto? And I am sure we will also have another good campaign in Europe, as the 7-1 loss against Man United taught us all a valuable lesson – as you could see when we went to Old Trafford again this season and put it in an excellent display.”
His regular defensive partner Cristian Chivu may have left the Stadio Olimpico in the summer, but Mexes’ form this year suggests that he was the crucial component in the Giallorossi back-line and not the more esteemed Romanian stopper. If he continues to improve at this rate then it’s only a matter of time before he is recognised as one of the world’s best. A Scudetto triumph would do his reputation no harm at all – and perhaps people will finally stop asking him why he turned down Sir Alex Ferguson…
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| Words: Richard Godden – November 2007 |
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