🇨🇮❤️🩹 Yan Diomandé shared a deeply moving tribute to his younger sister Roxane, who passed away at just 15 years old. ⤵️
The Ivorian international looks back on his childhood in Abidjan, when he played wearing a fake Manchester United shirt on which he had written “Ronaldo 7” in black marker.
"Do you remember when someone bought me that fake United shirt and I wrote ‘Ronaldo 7’ on the back with a black marker? Do you remember when we used to sit together and dream about living in France?
That we would go shopping and have our own apartment, that I would become a rich footballer with cars and a big house, and that you would never have to worry about anything.
You were the one who always believed I would be the next Cristiano, when everyone else laughed.
I had trials at Bournemouth, Chelsea, Rangers, Olympiacos, Crystal Palace…
Even MLS reserve teams didn’t want me. I didn’t even know why. My visa expired. My dream was over. They sent me back to Africa, and we cried together.
You were the only one who never stopped believing. A few weeks later, I signed for Leganés, and we cried different tears.
Today, I feel nothing. It’s as if I’m no longer even human. Since you died, I’m just empty.
I broke down, and they didn’t even try to soften the blow. No emotions. Just: ‘Your sister is gone.’ Someone put something in her drink at a party, and she never woke up. She was gone. You were 15 years old. Fifteen years old.
Tomorrow, we leave for the World Cup. For real. Your brother is going to play for Ivory Coast, like Drogba, like Yaya, like Gervinho.
Every time I score a goal, I’ll make sure everyone knows your name. I will fulfill what you predicted, I swear it. I will prove that you were right, or I will die trying."
Keep him one more season but he’s been dropping off he’s not as good as he was last season cucu always been a bit limited on the ball but a good tactical option and a leader on the pitch
Arsenal fans had to watch Chelsea win the PL five times, win the CL twice, complete Europe and win the club World Cup to complete football.
Let our little brothers have one season to celebrate
Best comparison I can make to Maresca is Joao Pedro’s situation right now.
If given the chance & the cards fall that way, Joao Pedro is snaking us and going Barca 100%.
We are turning a blind eye as fans because he’s a good CF, the same way Maresca was a good coach for us.
Maresca saw cards fall for a potential move to City from early, & always wanted to know if it was possible.
We only made his life way easier by not treating him right & overlooking “him”. Almost like poor treatment of a partner opens the door to stepping out.
Don’t be deluded enough to think a guy who was a youth coach at City, a coach during the treble season & randomly switched agent in September/October wasn’t positioning himself “if” (big if) the move was possible.
Things have gone exactly how he would’ve wished/wanted (part of why he gladly resigned & probably started moving overly ballsy in interviews).
If there was no other pathway available, I’m sure he would’ve kept it p, like he was doing beforehand.
Maresca isn’t a saint or villain. Both sides on him are extreme.
We can’t blame him for dipping because the SD’s were doing him super dirty, but he ain’t “Chels” like that by any stretch of the imagination, or someone to be riding for either.
He’s just a brother that was doing what’s best for him & played the game well.
Don’t play yourself and have extreme emotional ties to most of these guys. Only a few players/coaches are worth that.
Both BlueCo/Maresca played chess & are classic industry/calculated/slimy types.
Important thing is both parties are happy now, & it worked out for everyone.
Let’s leave all this behind.
🚨 BREAKING:
- Fede Valverde went up to Tchouaméni and ACCUSED HIM of LEAKING yesterday's fight to THE PRESS.
- Tchouaméni DENIED it and asked Fede to STOP FIGHTING him.
- Fede Valverde KEPT PUSHING.
- Tchouaméni blew up and HIT HIM.
- Fede Valverde fell, cut his head, unconscious, and was taken out on a WHEELCHAIR.
@diarioas