Joane Gadou: A boy who wins hearts and challenges by the bucketload | OneFootball

Salzburger Halbzeit with our young defensive talent

"Joane, smile please!" said the photographer when walking along the River Salzach. "I'm a defender, we have to be serious," said the French youngster cheekily. Then along came a group of youngsters who called out: "That's Gadou!"  As they continued to call "Gadou, Gadou!", then the small smile broke out.

Obviously he has been in increasing demand for autographs and selfies in Salzburg the more he has appeared for us. His recent good performances and Player of the Month honour for April have also helped. Joane's athleticism and impressive size of 1.95 metres are impossible to ignore, and that comes from the family. "We are all really tall, including my mum. One of my older brothers is even taller than me - he plays basketball." It's hard to say our centre-back would be a bad fit for a basketball court, either, and is enjoying following the NBA play-offs, even if his Los Angeles Lakers with star player LeBron James are already out. In his youth it was all about football, football and more football though. It all began around an hour's drive from Paris in the small town of Nangis. "That is my town. I was born there, grew up there and my family and friends live there - it will always be my home. I played a lot on the caged pitch in my estate, which is very usual in France. Then I started at the club in Nangis, when I was very young still, around seven. When I was 14, I moved to the Paris Saint-Germain youth team."

Clearly that was the kind of step that would change everything. There are barely any clubs in Europe that can match the glamour of PSG, even if they are focusing more on youth development these days. Joane attributes the fact he has great technical accomplishment and clean ball-playing along with classical defensive strengths to his time in Paris.

"I worked a lot for that and am grateful for the development at Paris Saint-Germain, as we trained on so much technique there! I was welcomed well there as a young child, and I had a good relationship with Marquinhos and Kylian Mbappe, above all, who supported me a lot. I had a good chat with Mbappe after the Real Madrid match in January." In the youth ranks at PSG, Jogad, as his friends know him, took a similarly rapid ascent as later with our Red Bulls. The tall and powerful boy leapt from one age group to the next and even made it to the first team as a 16-year-old. Being able to work at that time with a group of pros that welcomed him so well has shaped his outlook until today. "As a boy, I already had the attitude of giving my all on the pitch, whether it was a match or in training. When I came to the first team at PSG and saw how the big stars - those who had already made it - were working hard every day, it was clear to me that no matter how good they are, they try every day to be better. To see that was impressive."

His move last summer to us would be Joane's biggest career step yet. It was not only his first move abroad but also the first time he had left the Paris area.

"Of course I miss France, my friends and going for a walk with them through Paris. You have to love Salzburg though. I am very happy here. I had the good luck to have found a nice apartment here right next to the Mirabellgarten, and it can't get any better than that."

Joane did not make the move alone. His mother came with him and his seven-year-old brother. His father and three other siblings remain in France due to work commitments, but there are regular visits for the family. The 18-year-old – whose parents are both from the Ivory Coast – goes about his work quietly and professionally, and it helps him that he has already found some good friends in our team.

"After training I mostly go home, recover with individual exercises and have a nap. When I have free time, I often meet up with Sammy [Baidoo] and he comes to mine or I visit him. We play a lot of Fortnite together, and he is definitely the best in the team at that. I get on very well with Dorgeles [Nene] too, and we meet up a lot."

One of his role models is a former member of our Red Bulls: Dayot Upamecano has always impressed Joane.

"I always liked him, due to the way he plays but also due to his manner. He is a humble guy, and I like that. At the friendly match against Bayern, Musti [Mustapha Mesloub, Players Integration Assistant] introduced me to him. Dayot told me that I made the right choice and found a good club. I need to give my all, then I can achieve a great career."

Gallery: Salzburger Halbzeit with Joane Gadou