It’s been a brilliant start to the season for Paris Saint-Germain’s 18-year-old striker…
Weah scored his first Ligue 1 Conforama goal last Sunday night to secure a 3-0 win over SM Caen, just eight days after netting in the Trophée des Champions victory against AS Monaco.
The United States international is the latest Weah to shine at PSG – his father George was a Parc des Princes hero back in the 1990s, but now the name is ringing around the famous old stadium again thanks to Timothy, who joined the club’s youth academy two years ago and is already following in the footsteps of his illustrious father.
“As a father, he has always had words of advice for me, he is just a regular father, there for his son, supporting me and wanting me to take my own path in life and do what I wanted to do and that was to play football, so I’m glad he let me do what I wanted to do and I’m glad he lets helps me on and off the pitch,” the young Weah told This Is Paris on beIN Sports.
“I’m happy that I’m his son and I get the chance to prove that I am just as good as he was – or just get the chance to play at the highest level, that’s the most important thing for me.”
Watch: Weah scores his first Ligue 1 Conforama goal
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Timothy’s father is now the president of his native Liberia, but he starred for PSG between 1992 and 1995, in between spells at Monaco and AC Milan. One of his greatest goals came against Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League in 1994-95.
“He scored an amazing goal against Bayern Munich and that would have to be one of my favourite goals,” said Timothy. “I’ve always been a fan of PSG, from the Pauleta days, Nenê. I always loved using those players in Pro Evolution Soccer and FIFA, it’s always been a team that I wanted to come to. I was willing to come and i was ready.”
Eye-opener
Weah’s career accelerated in the spring. He was called up to the US national team, and was subsequently drafted up to Unai Emery’s senior PSG squad. The teenager admits working alongside the likes of Edinson Cavani and Ángel Di María was something of an eye-opener.
“There’s that first week of training where you’re like ‘oh my god, this is actually happening, I’m playing with guys that I’m normally playing with on FIFA and that I’m watching on TV’, and they’re doing incredible things and as a young kid, you’re just shocked to get the opportunity to play alongside some of the legends of the game.
“Now I’m on the bench watching the games and I’m just so proud to be on the bench, learning from the older guys, I’m proud to be training with them and I literally can’t wait to get more playing time and show the world what I can do, but right now, it’s a time for learning and standing back in my corner and watching everything and analysing.
“I like to analyse Cavani because we play the same position and I like to analyse his runs, his positioning, how he runs off the ball, stuff like that.”
He was named in the matchday squad for the first time away to ESTAC Troyes in March, an unforgettable day for any young player.
“The whole experience was crazy. I wasn’t expecting that day to get the call to come on, and when the coach told me to go and warm up, I knew something was about to go down, and while I was warming up, there were lots of little voices in my head telling me: ‘Tim, this is your opportunity, so go on, even if you don’t score, try and get a couple of chances, play well, don’t be scared, be confident’ and I did that, I almost got a goal.
“Unfortunately the goalkeeper stopped it, but I was happy with my performance and I was so proud to make my debut for this club.”
With new boss Thomas Tuchel counting on him, the future looks bright for Timothy Weah.
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