“I want to enjoy every day”: in Ivry at the first match of the last dance of Nikola Karabatich

With a big smile, Nikola Karabatich crosses the door leading to the locker room of the Auguste-Delon Gymnasium in Ivry-sur-Seine (Val-de-Marne). The greatest player in the history of French handball or even handball doesn’t really look like a future retiree. Rather, this is a happy person, to put it simply. A few hours earlier, the three-time Olympic champion (2008, 2012, 2020) had just announced his retirement. In an open letter on the official website of PSG, his club since 2015, and in an interview with L’Equipe, “Nico” announced his decision: to discover a different life at the end of the 2023-2024 season.

“I don’t know if we can talk about relief,” he confesses to us after PSG’s big victory over the American Ivry (43-29) during the final summer preparatory meeting. But I’m happy because I know that every moment, every game can be the last. It’s more on a personal level, I take it differently. Every time I was asked a question about my future … Now everything is clear. I won’t be asked about it again. It allows me to enjoy every moment. This is a good feeling. “In the halls of Ile-de-France, we did not see him for almost five months, exhausted by a foot injury and phlebitis of his right leg.

But after a successful physical preparation and a revived body, even approaching his 40th birthday (in April 2024), Nikola Karabatich seems to be ready for this last dance. “I am happy, I was a little afraid for my leg,” PSG No. 44 admits. I have good feelings. I feel good physically. I expected it to be harder in terms of pace but had a good conversation with the staff. “Always in charge of the game during the half hour spent on the pitch, he also offered himself a beautiful goal 40 seconds before the end of a beautiful Parisian evening.

“When you play at a club like Paris, if you’re not at that level, it shows,” smiles Didier Dinard, Ivry USA coach and former teammate in selection. If the club left him, it is because he still has horses under his hood. He had a long career, we went through some very big battles together (laughs). True, it seems that it is eternal, that it does not fade away. He still has a very good level, we saw him again tonight in a friendly match. When you have such longevity, it is not in vain. He is the greatest player of all time. He brought a lot to French handball. You need to have a lot of respect. »

In front of 700 spectators conquered by Ivry like the stars of PSG, Nikola Karabatich could only be delighted. “That’s cool, yeah! Even if we had friendly matches in Germany in front of 4,000 people, it’s still not the same,” he laughs, after spending a good quarter of an hour signing shirts and posing for pictures. . Next ? The native of Nis in Serbia doesn’t like to imagine it too much. “At my age, we dream a little less,” launches a player who has gone through Montpellier, Kiel or Barcelona. We focus on concrete. I don’t get too hung up on titles. Of course, I know what will happen in the end. But I know it will pass in the blink of an eye. I don’t want to spend the season thinking about the result. »

Fourth Champions League? 16th national title? Fourth Olympic gold medal? Here’s what the result might look like. She would be great.