Ex-Arsenal star turned billionaire reveals secret behind how he amassed enormous fortune

Ex-Arsenal star turned billionaire reveals secret behind how he amassed enormous fortune A former Arsenal star has explained how he was able to start a hugely successful company during his playing days Former Arsenal star Mathieu Flamini has pointed to his choice of how to spend his downtime as a footballer as the reason he amassed a vast fortune outside the sport. While many of his teammates may have chosen to relax, Flamini was eager to learn and was already a huge success in another industry before hanging up his boots. The ex-France international signed for the Gunners as a young midfielder from Marseille in 2004. Across two spells with Arsenal, he clinched three FA Cups, featured in the 2006 Champions League final and won the club’s player of the year award. The 42-year-old boasted a career that the vast majority of footballers would envy but Flamini refused to take it easy between training sessions and matches. He co-founded GF Biochemicals and launched the green energy company in 2013 while playing for Italian giants AC Milan. Flamini initially kept quiet about his business venture as he juggled being the CEO of a company reportedly worth over £10billion with competing in Serie A. His passion for the environment was shaped as a child by collecting plastic on beaches with his father, which led him to study the subject rather than shopping or gaming during his time away from football. Make sure you don't miss the best Arsenal coverage by making the Daily Mirror one of your Google preferred sources. “From a very young age, I had the opportunity to understand the negative impact humans have on the planet,” Flamini told L’Express. “I wanted to pursue this second passion alongside football. Having the chance to express myself off the pitch offers an escape, a way to clear my head. "An athlete’s life revolves around training and matches, but also rest and recovery. That leaves time for naps; while some players might choose to play PlayStation or go shopping after a nap, I decided to take a different path, to learn and grow by helping to build this company.” The ex-Gunner admitted that his current role heading up a company that mass-produces levulinic acid did not come naturally. Flamini recalled disliking chemistry and English at school, both of which now play major roles in his professional life. "I had to educate myself, be extremely curious, and surround myself with the right people,” he explained. “There’s a saying I like: if you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room." Being a French international whose trophy haul includes three FA Cups and a Serie A title is a sign of success, though not the most obvious route to becoming GF Biochemicals CEO. However, the former Premier League star, who officially retired from football in 2020, insists there are several ways his sporting career has helped him flourish in a different industry. “An athlete is a bit like an entrepreneur or the CEO of a major company,” Flamini said. “You have to know how to handle immense pressure and give your all every day. “Then there’s the team spirit. I’ve never seen a company succeed with just one person; it’s about the group, the collective, the team spirit, you have to know how to communicate a mission and a vision so that everyone moves in the same direction.” Reflecting on his change of career path, he added: “Now, I am living out my second passion and have a reason to live. I am someone who looks forward, not back. I am privileged. I was incredibly lucky to be able to make a living from a passion for so long, a childhood dream.” Join our WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.