For Luis Campos, recruiting a player is not simply about analysing performances, statistics or potential. Paris Saint-Germain’s sporting adviser also wants to understand the person behind the footballer before approving a transfer.
Speaking to RTP, the Portuguese executive revealed several techniques used to assess potential signings. His methods go far beyond traditional scouting, including restaurant meetings, walks through shopping centres, independent reports from multiple observers and discreet visits to stadiums.
Luis Campos Studies Every Aspect of a Player
Campos places great importance on personality, concentration and psychological balance. He once arranged to meet a target near several shops after hearing that the player had a difficult relationship with money. After the meeting, the player reportedly entered several stores and spent a considerable amount, allowing Campos to test the reputation for himself. Restaurant meetings are also used as interviews, with the PSG adviser carefully observing whether players remain attentive while the club’s philosophy and sporting project are explained.
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To obtain objective sporting assessments, Campos sometimes sends two scouts to the same match without telling either of them that the other is present. They submit separate reports, which he then compares to identify recurring observations. He refers to his most reliable collaborators as his “super scouts” and says he prefers information to remain independent and unfiltered.
Campos also goes to great lengths to avoid being recognised at matches. Instead of sitting in an official stand, he may buy his own ticket and watch from among the supporters. He even admitted to wearing a fake moustache inside a stadium. This discretion allows him to observe players in more natural conditions while protecting PSG’s transfer plans from rivals and speculation. At the Parisian club, talent alone is therefore not enough: behaviour, listening skills, financial habits, focus and the ability to fit into a collective project can all influence the final decision.
