“The man whom Mbappe trusts”. Meet the owner of France’s star-studded secret

Xavier Rousseau, the chef of the French national team since 2017, has revealed the secret of his relationship with the stars of the Roosters, with whom he has been directly involved for nearly 10 years, and his hidden role in their victory at the World Cup in Russia in 2018.

Away from the stadium lights and cameras, there are people who play a crucial role in the success of big teams. In the French camp, the name of Javier Russo stands out, the chef responsible for the players’ diet and the man Kylian Mbappe has trusted since he joined the national team when he was seventeen.

Rousseau said in an interview to the magazine.Acto ParisA special relationship develops with certain players over the years. I saw Mbappe join the national team when he was seventeen. The secret is not only a balanced diet, but also smart cooking.

Rousseau closely monitors the calories consumed by the players and ensures that their meals are designed to achieve the highest level of performance. At the 2018 World Cup, he, along with the rest of the technical staff, was awarded a victory medal after being crowned champions of France.

Rousseau’s culinary journey began with a call that changed his course. He was about to go to the Canary Islands to study when he received an offer from the luxury restaurant Pavillon Ledoyan on the Champs-Élysées in Paris.

“I had a room not exceeding 10 square meters near the restaurant, and I worked from morning to night without rest,” Russo says.

He then moved between several restaurants in the capital, then worked as a chef at the Roland Garros tennis complex and the Vincennes racetrack, where he expanded his network, and in 2017 the French Football Federation hired him to oversee the national team’s kitchen.

For nine years, Rousseau has continued his work with the Roosters, maintaining a precise diet for each tournament, and has built a strong relationship with Paul Pogba during the 2018 World Cup, while he enjoys special appreciation from Mbappe, who constantly praises him.

Rousseau is considered one of the most famous chefs in France, and the union even renews his contract annually. Federation officials say. “There is nothing like him in France”, while the secret of his recipes is kept as a precious treasure.