Sunset Café Bar
The UB members gathered together, hurling abuse at those voices that questioned Julien De Rocca.
For them, there was no right or wrong, only allegiance.
They unwaveringly supported De Rocca.
Bastia hadn't produced an active international player in years, and now that they finally had a promising talent, they had to be his backbone.
Modoso downed a glass of pastis in one gulp, slamming the glass onto the table as the others looked his way.
"I've decided," Modoso declared, "that TIFO we prepared for the next match—I want to paint it on the side of the central building at Terra-Vecchia, a massive mural, just like how the Neapolitans painted Maradona's portrait on the streets of Naples. We in Bastia should have our own totem now!"
No one objected to this proposal.
"We should have done this ages ago. I think this design is absolutely brilliant! De Rocca deserves it!"
"I'm all for it!"
"I'll contact the others right now to push this forward. I don't think the city government will interfere."
Modoso chuckled. "Of course they won't. Just yesterday the mayor was defending De Rocca in his interview with the Bastia Evening News."
Everyone burst into laughter, continuing their crude dismissal of De Rocca's critics.
They expressed their most passionate emotions in this direct, unfiltered way.
Later in the evening, someone started chanting.
"De Rocca! De Rocca!"
The UB members began singing the song they'd composed for De Rocca, inspiring other fans in the bar to join in.
"Your silhouette is Corsica's hurricane!
Your shots incinerate the enemy's net!
Forza, Bastia!"
"Your goals are fists thrown at opponents!
When you run, the earth trembles—
The Deep Blue Legion is your army!"
On days without matches, the Sunset Café was rarely this lively.
Bertrand, constantly rushing about, frowned and muttered to himself, "I need to call for more wine delivery... these drunkards."
Julien remained calm and collected in the training as usual as if nothing had happened. This actually made the other players somewhat uncomfortable.
Logically, with all the external turmoil, shouldn't De Rocca show some reaction?
The players thought that if they were in his position, they would have already posted defiant messages on social media, determined to prove themselves.
But De Rocca hadn't.
He acted as if nothing had occurred.
In the office, Hadzibegic and Châtaigner watched the players training outside, both feeling moved.
"Julien has truly matured. Looking at it now, without that imprisonment experience, he might never have become this calm," Hadzibegic nodded with relief.
He had even prepared a whole speech of comfort and guidance for Julien, planning to use examples from his own playing days. But Julien didn't need any of it.
Châtaigner laughed, "Perhaps in the future, when we have troublesome players, we can try throwing them in jail."
Both men chuckled.
Châtaigner continued, "But it seems prison really is a good place for reforming people. Both Julien and Angulo became different men after coming out."
Hadzibegic nodded.
Angulo was the team's important rotation defender. His achievements might not reach De Rocca's heights, but his life story was rich enough.
At eight years old, Angulo was kicked out by his family and left to wander the streets. During this period, he developed an interest in violent and bloody Muay Thai, became passionate about it, began training, and even became a professional Muay Thai fighter.
However, he suffered a serious injury in a Muay Thai match, ending his fighting career. Disheartened, he fell in with bad company and turned to crime.
At twenty, he was sentenced to one year in prison.
After his release, Angulo turned over a new leaf and decided to restart his life. He transformed into a semi-professional football player, playing for French fourth-tier teams Grau-du-Roi and Dunkirk, showing considerable talent.
This summer, Bastia noticed him, and Châtaigner signed him on a free transfer.
He became an important force in the team's promotion campaign.
Châtaigner's recruitment strategy for Bastia revealed certain patterns: all free signings, all problem players of various kinds.
Bastia gave them opportunities and accepted them, allowing them to choose fresh starts here.
Moreover, these "bad boys" fit well with the team's rough playing style.
For instance, whenever De Rocca was fouled, Rothen and others would look ready to fight, and the players' vicious fouls during matches made opponents think twice about committing harsh fouls against De Rocca.
Wasn't this another form of protection for De Rocca?
Châtaigner and Hadzibegic stood by the window together. "Since Julien doesn't care, we shouldn't worry too much either. We are Bastia! We're the islanders in the mainlanders' mouths, synonymous with crudeness, ferocity, and brutality. We don't need others' approval—we only need them to fear us."
He turned to face Hadzibegic. "Just like the Emperor did, conquering the European continent relied not on others' recognition, but on strength!"
March 31st, 6:50 PM, Stade Cesari
Earth-shaking roars erupted from the stadium.
Though it could only hold just over ten thousand people, it seemed to awaken an ancient beast beneath the ground—the earth trembled!
The Bastia and Laval players were already in the tunnel, ready to enter the pitch.
Julien listened to the crowd's roar outside. His gaze was sharp as a blade.
Had he seen the external turmoil these past few days? Of course.
Did he care? Not particularly.
On the first day of the controversy, he received a text from Zidane: "Focus on training and matches—that's what you should be doing. I'll handle the rest."
There were also greetings from family.
Even Mbappé had called him, "In my heart, you're the strongest!"
He also said, "When you return to Clairefontaine, my parents want to invite you to our house."
Then there was yesterday's pre-match press conference, where Hadzibegic had been unusually bold.
"We hope to be victorious in these final rounds. We hope to be champions. Yes, we now have the right to compete for the title."
"De Rocca entering the national team is perfectly normal. Anyone who's watched him play knows what talent and ability he possesses."
"De Rocca is worth thirty million. If you ask me, he's worth a hundred million."
"He will depart from Corsica to conquer the continent!"
All of this.
Julien knew that no player could escape criticism—not Maradona, Pelé, Ronaldo, or even current stars like Cristiano and Messi.
Who hadn't advanced step by step through doubt?
This was the inevitable path for a player reaching the top level.
Because mediocrity truly envied talent.
They always longed to find flaws in geniuses, to diminish others and minimize the gap between themselves and their targets. This method of self-comfort and self-victory was used by many, even ingrained in their bones.
Another word for it: human nature.
"C'est parti!" came the referee's voice from the front of the line.
Julien refocused his thoughts.
As he entered the pitch, beyond the overwhelming noise, a large banner on the stands directly opposite the tunnel caught his attention.
Or rather, everyone's attention!
Including fans watching the broadcast.
On the blue banner was written:
"Julien De Rocca n'est pas qu'un joueur, c'est une déclaration de guerre!"
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