Michel Platini is leaving his former home in Nyon, Switzerland, where he lived as the UEFA president, as he puts it up for sale. While he may be stepping away from the spotlight, Platini has found a new life in Cassis, located in the south of France. Just a short drive from Marseille, Cassis offers him picturesque views, a vibrant atmosphere, and the chance to stroll along the coast, greeting friends and fans alike.
Life on the French Riviera suits Platini well. He has embraced entrepreneurship, taking over a restaurant hotel called “Bistrot da Nino,” which boasts a beautiful terrace overlooking the harbor. Platini describes his new chapter in Cassis: “Here, I am playing wonderful extra time in a beautiful place.”
Since his controversial exit from football in 2015, he has distanced himself from the game but has not ruled out a return. Platini has indicated that he might not step back into official roles with FIFA or UEFA. There was a time when he considered joining a players’ union to strengthen its influence, but for now, he has a “secret project” that he is not ready to reveal.
Currently, his football involvement seems limited to watching games on TV, having attended only a few live matches — he admits he has never seen star player Kylian Mbappé from the stands. Platini’s story is remarkable and filled with twists. He was deeply embroiled in a scandal that rocked FIFA following a CIA investigation into the bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, which brought to light a controversial payment of two million Swiss francs from former FIFA president Sepp Blatter to Platini for work done between 1998 and 2002, but paid in 2011.
He had declared that payment to Swiss tax authorities, but had he been more proactive and informed UEFA at the time, the consequences might have been different. This lack of communication led to anonymous reports, resulting in a lengthy four-year ban while he faced numerous accusations, including fraud. Though he was eventually cleared of all civil and criminal charges, the tarnishing of his reputation left a mark. Reflecting on the ordeal, he expressed his frustration: “They treated me like a corrupt person, a money launderer, a forger… I will not let this go.”
As Platini steps into this new chapter of his life, the future remains unwritten, filled with possibilities but grounded in past trials and triumphs.