Former PSG goalkeeper praises David Raya

Sergio Rico places full confidence in PSG before the Champions League final against Arsenal, while also showering accolades on David Raya - the shot-stopper who is becoming a new icon for the Gunners.

As all of Europe counts down to the match Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal, a name deeply connected to the Parisian club suddenly speaks out with emotion: Sergio Rico.

The former Spanish goalkeeper wore the PSG shirt for many seasons, playing alongside superstars like Lionel Messi, Neymar, Kylian Mbappé, and Ángel Di María. For Rico, Paris is not just where he won titles, but also part of the best memories of his career.

In an interview with Diario AS before the Champions League clash, Rico did not hide his confidence in his former club: “I know they will give their all, and I am certain PSG will win.”

According to Rico, Luis Enrique's PSG is now completely different from the period when they relied only on superstar glamour. It is a cohesive team, full of fighting spirit, operating like a well-oiled machine. “Now everyone runs for each other. This is a very systematically built team. Over the past two years we have seen a truly unstoppable PSG,” Rico commented.

Notably, despite supporting PSG, the 32-year-old goalkeeper still gave glowing praise to Arsenal's shot-stopper - David Raya. When talking about the form of David Raya, Sergio Rico simply exclaimed: “Olé! ” “Absolutely incredible!”, “Truly amazing!”, “Outstanding!”, “There’s nothing left to say!” or simply “Hats off in admiration!”.

According to the former PSG goalkeeper, Raya has not only played well this season but has maintained consistent top form for many years. He considers the Arsenal goalkeeper a model for the modern goalkeeper role - good with his feet, involved in ball distribution, and directly influencing the tactical system. That is exactly the philosophy Luis Enrique is building at PSG, where the goalkeeper is no longer just a shot-stopper.

Besides Raya, Rico also specifically mentioned two stars currently shining for PSG: Vitinha and Ousmane Dembélé. He believes Vitinha has now reached the level of a Ballon d'Or candidate thanks to his all-around play, while Dembélé is “one of the best players in the world right now”.

“Dembélé’s quality has been there for a long time, but now everything is coming together for him. I’m really happy about that,” Rico shared.

Not only talking about football, Sergio Rico also moved many people when recalling his recovery journey after a serious accident in El Rocío in 2023 - an event that once made him fight for his life. Now, the former PSG goalkeeper affirms he has fully recovered both physically and mentally. He is training intensely, playing padel, cycling every day, and ready to return to professional football. “I feel 100% healthy. There is no reason for any club to worry,” Rico affirmed.

In the upcoming Champions League night, Sergio Rico's heart is clearly still with Paris - the place where he experienced the most memorable years of his career.