Strasbourg`s right-back is the older brother of PSG star Desiré. Milan has been tracking him for a while. He previously faced the Rossoneri in the Europa League with Rennes, and his direct encounter with Rafael Leao didn`t go smoothly.
Football history is full of examples of siblings who grew up playing together. Some, over time, developed rivalry and envy, while others spurred each other on and offered support. The Doué brothers fall into the latter category. We`ve all come to know Desiré, the PSG star, while Guéla is the name at the top of Milan director Tare`s wish list for the right flank. Archival searches of French websites and magazines recall a trial at Rennes where Guéla was on the pitch while a young Desiré juggled nearby, watching his older brother with hopeful eyes. That evening, they received the news that both had been accepted. Interestingly, in their first training session, both were placed in defense. Over time, one became a full-back and the other an attacker.
Who He Is
Guéla`s transition to full-back is thanks to a shrewd and persistent coach in the Rennes youth academy who dared to experiment. “Guéla, how about playing wide today?” He was a defensive central defender – already 1.85m at 15 – and didn`t seem very convinced. “Me, boss?” “Yes, you.” The result? He was the best player on the field and hasn`t moved from that position since. Doué, who turns 23 in October, is an attentive wide player, capable of both pushing forward and defending – he`s not a prolific scorer, with only 2 senior career goals – but possesses uncommon athletic ability and a good foot. A couple of insights into his character: two years ago with Rennes, he faced Milan and was defeated in his duel with Leao. A technical knockout, with the Portuguese winger leaving him bewildered. Guéla reportedly didn`t sleep for two nights because of it. Now, perhaps the only headache he`ll experience is during training. Furthermore, he`s dedicated. Doué is someone who never wants to make a mistake, a perfectionist. At Rennes, they revealed that he asked to be shown how to review videos of his plays on Wyscout to improve. He must have worn out the clips from the San Siro match. The hope is that there will be many more such matches.
Versatility
Another advantage is his versatility. This year, he was one of the best full-backs in Ligue 1, contributing to Strasbourg`s seventh-place finish by playing consistently and showing reliability. As mentioned, he had a past as a central defender – he was even tried in a back three – but his resume also includes a couple of matches as a deep-lying playmaker. He`s someone who fits in wherever you put him. Over time, he has become more offensive. He provided the first assists of his career for his brother two years ago with Rennes, and hasn`t stopped since. Regarding this, there`s a date the family circled in red on the calendar, alongside their various debuts: December 10, 2023, away against Clermont. 90th minute, Guéla crosses, and Desiré scores. All under the eyes of their mother and father, proud in the stands.
Family
Speaking of family, after playing for France`s youth national teams, Guéla chose to represent Ivory Coast. He, like his brother, was born in Strasbourg to Ivorian parents. Desiré, however, chose to accept the call-up from France. Their cousins Yann Gboho and Marc-Olivier Doué, both professional footballers, represent a different case: both have only featured for France`s youth teams so far, meaning they could still potentially choose to switch allegiances. The former is an attacking midfielder and plays for Toulouse, the latter is a central defender in Spain, at Ponferradina. In an interview, Desiré – the youngest of them all, born in 2005 – recalled how they used to play together as kids. “My brother got good at defending by trying to catch me and not fall for my feints,” he joked, “I trained him well.” Who knows if he`ll have to face him again in the future. In the national team or… in the Champions League. Perhaps at San Siro. Hopefully, he`ll leave the pitch smiling less than Leao did two years ago.
Study and History
Those who know Guéla describe him as a great professional, obsessed with work. Someone who always aims to improve. This is also why Max Allegri appreciates him. Milan is targeting him, he dreams of landing in Serie A. He will need to improve offensively, in terms of goals and assists, but he is growing significantly. He is 22 years old, and his potential is excellent. Also to reverse a negative trend on the Rossoneri`s right flank that has been ongoing for years. Interestingly, Doué likes to study, to know everything about opponents and teammates. But also about the history of football. A human database. In short, at Milan, he`ll know how to fill his free time.
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