Jean-Clair Todibo: People said I failed at Barca

Jean-Clair Todibo did not have a successful spell at FC Barcelona. He arrived very young, with hardly any experience at elite levels. The first few months he played nothing at all, and even worse, when he had a chance, he was a 'victim' of nerves. The move didn't work out and Barça ended up selling him. At a good price, to be honest. And at Nice he found himself again. 

There he has managed to make his debut with France's senior team. And he is on the agenda of several European giants. In an interview for 'Telefoot', the French centre-back said: "Because I didn't play for Barcelona, people said I had failed. I learned from my failure, and I prefer my story to be like that and not all rosy". 

Regarding Nice and what it has brought him, Todibo says "I felt confident and loved. Everything was clear about the fact that I could finally express myself and play my football. I talk a lot with Lilian Thuram. He is someone I respect. He played in my position, so I talk to him."

Todibo suffered an accident that kept him between life and death before he became a professional footballer: "I was hit by a car when I was going to practice judo with my older sister and I was in a coma for three or four days. When I woke up, I asked the surgeon if I could play football again. He said no."