Charlotte FC's New Superstar Allan Saint-Maximin: "I'm a winner. The only thing I know is to win, or to help my team to win"

By Brian Maurer

When Charlotte FC announced that Wilfried Zaha would be leaving at the end of his loan, the question immediately arose: how would the club replace him? Not only the goal contributions, but the superstar mentality that the winger possesses. "We initially brought [Wilfried Zaha] on a 18-month loan, that's well documented, and the plan was then to reassess and see how he's done, how he fit in, how we want him to play, where he's going, his game, and make a decision based on that...We decided that we would like to offer him a contract. We made two good offers, in my opinion," Charlotte FC's General Manager Zoran Krneta said as he recapped the negotiation process between the Crown and Zaha.

Krneta mentioned that neither party was able to come close to an agreement, leading to the need to start looking for other options. "He refused both and wanted different terms, which I thought for a 34-year-old at this stage of life, and everything else is not realistic for us...this league is getting better, it's getting faster, it's getting more athletic...I think, I believe that we as Charlotte FC, the league in general, most of us at least...would like to go away from this retirement league," continued Krneta. "I felt that after [Zaha] refused these two [offers] and we just turned around and started looking at other options. And, one of them obviously was [Allan Saint-Maximin]...Then we closed it because we couldn't wait for [Zaha] to make a final decision."

Krneta mentioned that the club starts tracking potential free agents eight months before their contracts expire, and that they had started conversations with Allan Saint-Maximin (29) several months earlier.

For Saint-Maximin, coming to play in MLS and in the United States had been a dream for a long time. "It was a dream...to have the chance to play one day in America, in MLS...In France, we always say, in America, everything is possible," Saint-Maximin said on a call with local media.

Saint-Maximin (or Maxi as he likes to be called) played with French Legend Youri Djorkaeff's son Oan at Saint-Etienne growing up, and he said he got a lot of advice from Djorkaeff about playing in the US. Those words stuck with him throughout the negotiation process.

The Frenchman's contract with Charlotte is for three years, but both Saint-Maximin and Krneta mentioned there could be an opportunity for longer terms. The winger also said he had opportunities to join other clubs on long-term contracts, but he opted for Charlotte over them. "To be fair, I have the chance in a lot of places to have three years, and some clubs offer me like five years deal...I had the chance to stay in Lens and to play the Champions League."

Good conversations with Krneta and Head Coach Dean Smith were key to helping sway the decision of the Starman. "The best chat I had was with the coach. I had the chance to have breakfast with him, to speak for a long time. And this was one of the best conversations I have since a long time, since Steve Bruce, when I was in Newcastle," said Saint-Maximin.

The family-focused feel of Charlotte is a popular reason for many players to choose Charlotte FC, and it played a role as well for Saint-Maximin. "I'm in a period of my life where everything is starting to set up well. My kids start to grow up, they start to understand more things...when you are good outside the pitch, you are going to be good in the pitch," said the winger.

Leaving a legacy is also a crucial part of Saint-Maximin's plans in Charlotte, and his ability to create that legacy was a key reason for choosing the Crown and MLS. "I'm really here to create a legacy because I have a lot of things to do on the pitch, but I have a lot of things to do outside the pitch."

Off the pitch, the 29-year-old mentioned that he had an academy that he needs to keep building, and that he is interested in coaching. He also said he prefers his life pretty quiet, spending most of his time with his family.

On the pitch, Saint-Maximin highlighted his willingness to work, press, and bring a strong winning mentality to the club. "I'm a team player. I'm ready to work, I'm ready to run, I'm ready to defend, I'm ready to attack and show my quality, because I know my quality...I'm sure you guys are going to enjoy seeing me play every single game," he said confidently. "I'm a winner. The only thing I know is to win, or to help my team to win."

In his most recent season, he left Club America for French side Lens, and helped the club finish second in Ligue 1 and win the Coupe de France.

Being a leader on the field is another trait that Saint-Maximin highlighted as being a key for him. "The way I play, the way I can help the team in so many different aspects because I'm a real leader, you understand? I think I showed this year, even more."

Saint-Maximin said he learned a lot about mentality from some of the best players in the world growing up in France. "I have the chance to play with incredible players, I have the chance to play with the Ballon d'Or, Ousmane Dembele, since very young, I have the chance to play with Kylian Mbappe." He specifically highlighted pressing and defending being a key to that mentality. "I want to bring this pressing mentality, because we need to press, we need to defend. The more we press, the more we're gonna recoup the ball, and the more we're gonna have a chance to attack."

Krneta spoke about Saint-Maximin's directness and dribbling ability as being key for how the new signing can help the club in and around the box. "He's way more direct, and he's a dribbler. He goes forward, fast, straight at the defenders...So, I think we will see more crosses, we will see maybe more assists from him, and also the goals, because he's a very good finisher," stated Krneta. "I'd like our team, my team, to be very athletic and very, very fast and with speed...Which is a modern game."

Charlotte's General Manager also mentioned Saint-Maximin's Superstar mentality as key, since he can carry the weight of the Designated Player status and the "crown" that comes with it. "I made mistakes in the first couple of years. We're bringing up very good players...but not able to wear the crown. Not able to go in front of 30,000 people, and the media, and expectations that they have to produce. [Saint-Maximin] doesn't have that problem. He thinks, and he is a superstar. [Zaha] didn't have a problem. He thinks, and he is a superstar." Measuring this type of "Superstar" mentality has been a key metric for Charlotte when they have made their recent DP signings.

While Saint-Maximin has just been announced as the club's next marquee signing who will wear the number 10, Krneta and the Charlotte FC front office aren't done yet. "I would expect a new face, or new faces in this club by the end of the window," stated Krneta.