The former RC Lens player, now with Charlotte FC in MLS, turned down a proposal of 26 million euros for his successful board game.
Allan Saint-Maximin continues to surprise, well beyond the football pitches. The former Lens player, now settled in American MLS where he wears the jersey of Charlotte FC, has developed an unexpected passion: board game creation. His baby, Helios, a card game that has quickly won over a loyal audience, has just been the subject of a particularly bold offer.
An investor proposed the tidy sum of 26 million euros to get his hands on this gaming project. A considerable amount that could have made any entrepreneur think twice. Yet, Saint-Maximin didn't hesitate long. The 27-year-old player politely declined this proposal, preferring to keep the reins of his invention.
This spectacular refusal illustrates the particular attachment that the former Nice player has to Helios. Beyond the financial aspect, it's a personal project that is clearly close to his heart. The card game, which combines strategy and sociability, has found its audience and seems to meet a genuine demand in the board game market.
This decision comes at a pivotal time in Saint-Maximin's sporting career. Away from the spotlight of European football since his departure for the United States, he demonstrates that he has interests and ambitions that go far beyond the football pitch. His entrepreneurial project demonstrates a long-term vision, quite different from the sometimes controversial image that sticks to him.
Now remains to be seen whether Helios will manage to establish itself durably in a competitive market, and whether Saint-Maximin will manage to transform this passion into a true commercial empire, without necessarily going through the buyout route.
An investor proposed the tidy sum of 26 million euros to get his hands on this gaming project. A considerable amount that could have made any entrepreneur think twice. Yet, Saint-Maximin didn't hesitate long. The 27-year-old player politely declined this proposal, preferring to keep the reins of his invention.
This spectacular refusal illustrates the particular attachment that the former Nice player has to Helios. Beyond the financial aspect, it's a personal project that is clearly close to his heart. The card game, which combines strategy and sociability, has found its audience and seems to meet a genuine demand in the board game market.
This decision comes at a pivotal time in Saint-Maximin's sporting career. Away from the spotlight of European football since his departure for the United States, he demonstrates that he has interests and ambitions that go far beyond the football pitch. His entrepreneurial project demonstrates a long-term vision, quite different from the sometimes controversial image that sticks to him.
Now remains to be seen whether Helios will manage to establish itself durably in a competitive market, and whether Saint-Maximin will manage to transform this passion into a true commercial empire, without necessarily going through the buyout route.
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Source: Ouest-France