"Julien, congratulations! You're Triple crown winner! You've made history for Bastia."
Julien held his phone, and was replying to each message with a simple: "thank you."
Until he saw a text from Mbappé: "I told you that you'd definitely win the triple crown. Are you coming back to Paris early next month?"
It was followed by an expectant emoji.
Julien thought for a moment before replying: "Deschamps hasn't called me yet. I might not necessarily return to Paris—I need to prepare for the new Ligue 1 season."
Mbappé immediately responded: "No! You'll definitely come to Paris! The media is saying you're the strongest player under Deschamps and the cornerstone of the French national team."
Julien smiled as he looked at his phone.
"Who are you chatting with so happily? Your girlfriend?" Rothen said as he had just finished showering and emerged, his face was flushed red but whether from the triple crown victory or the hot shower water was unclear.
"No, just a friend." Julien replied shaking his head.
Rothen laughed heartily. "Not bad. You've really turned over a new leaf. I heard that when you were at Chelsea..."
"Hey, hey, hey, don't talk about the past anymore. That wasn't me. The old me already disappeared in the Fleury-Mérogis youth detention center." Julien stopped Rothen from bringing up those dark chapters.
Rothen patted Julien's shoulder. "I understand. Alright, let's go. Tonight, we won't go home until we're drunk! Let's celebrate properly!"
The first Ligue 1 match of the new season wouldn't start until August 12th.
There was still plenty of time.
After the triple crown, Hadzibegic had also relaxed his stance and stopped strictly managing the players' drinking.
But just for this one night.
Julien shook his head. "No, I'm still underage. I don't drink."
His phone buzzed again. Seeing that Julien hadn't replied, Mbappé sent another message: "August 4th, I'll be playing with Bondy against Les Ulis. I want you to come watch the match."
Seeing this message, Julien finally understood why Mbappé had sent that expectant emoji earlier.
Watching Rothen and the others pack up to leave, he replied with a simple: "okay."
Then he grabbed his bag and followed them.
However, Julien and the others didn't leave quickly because Henry had arrived.
As a French football legend, although he was now playing in America, he remained an idol for many French players.
Henry greeted many players from both Montpellier and Bastia.
When facing Julien, he gave him a big hug and said. "Zidane and the others often mention you, saying you're much stronger than I was at your age. I used to be unconvinced, but after watching your match today, I think they're right."
Julien replied, "If word of that gets out, I'm afraid the media will crucify me for not knowing my place. Your overhead kick against Tottenham in 2003—now that was an era-defining masterpiece. I'm still far from that level."
Henry smiled and didn't continue the topic. Instead, he changed the subject, "The Professor also mentions you constantly, saying he sees my former shadow in you. He even asked me to persuade you to come to Arsenal. How about it? Are you interested?"
'Arsenal.'
Julien smiled tactfully. "I'm currently focused on Bastia. I'll consider it."
Henry nodded and patted Julien's shoulder. "Keep it up."
Then he continued to chat with other players.
That night Julien didn't drink. Along with the non-drinking partners Kanté and Mané, he helped the hotel staff drag their teammates back to their rooms.
That night, Bastia was equally sleepless. The joy of the triple crown permeated the air of Bastia, so rich it was hard to dispel.
The next day.
The Bastia players gradually woke up. The latest was Angula, who had drunk himself sick the night before and didn't wake up until after 1 PM.
The team planned to take the evening flight back to Bastia, with a transfer in Paris.
Hadzibegic found Julien and asked if he needed to book a return ticket to Bastia for him.
Julien said shaking his head. "Deschamps called me at noon. I've been selected for his first French national team squad since taking over."
"Good!" Hadzibegic looked at Julien with a smile. "But once you're with the national team, take it easy. Don't get injured again like in the Euros."
The plane landed in Paris.
Julien said goodbye to his Bastia teammates and headed toward Clairefontaine.
Deschamps' first match in charge would be a friendly between France and Uruguay, last year's Copa América champions, on home soil.
Moreover, Uruguay would essentially field the same squad that won the championship.
Their attacking trident had a fearsome reputation—Diego Forlán, Suárez, and Cavani.
Although it was a friendly, it wouldn't be an easy match.
The French team was going through growing pains.
Deschamps' first battle in charge was going to be a tough one!
However, this match wouldn't start until August 7th, so before then, he could go watch Mbappé's Bondy team play.
Julien had looked into this match.
Bondy participated in the French regional league, which was the fifth tier.
Essentially an amateur league.
Their opponents, Les Ulis, were a regional amateur team. Les Ulis' most famous claim to fame was that Henry had trained there in his youth.
Clairefontaine operated on a "half-training, half-competition" model.
Students received concentrated training at the academy from Monday to Friday, then returned to their respective clubs on weekends to participate in regular youth leagues.
Mbappé and Julien met again at Clairefontaine and chatted.
"It hasn't been long since we last said goodbye."
"Let me introduce you to one of my teammates! William!"
As he spoke, Mbappé pushed a boy who was even taller than him in front of Julien.
Julien looked at this player wearing a Bondy jersey—he looked somewhat familiar.
"William Saliba. He's our team's defender. He's been playing with us since we were little. With him there, we don't need to worry about our defense at all."
Mbappé introduced the player before them.
Julien immediately remembered.
Saliba!
Sometimes Julien couldn't help but marvel at France's youth system—there were truly talented players everywhere.
Many top-level players would later not even have a place on the French national team.
They couldn't even make the squad. This showed just how fierce the competition for the French national team was.
"Hello, Julien." The current Saliba was only 11 years old and seemed quite immature. Far from the defensive stalwart he would become.
After agreeing to meet at Bondy's home ground—the Léo Lagrange Stadium—the next day, Julien headed to report to the national team.
"Finally, I get to meet you. Zidane has told me about you many times, asking me to properly develop your attacking abilities. Come on, Julien, let me see your skills in the next match."
When Deschamps saw Julien, his face was full of smiles.
The media really hadn't been talking nonsense, Julien was indeed his number one ace!
After Julien responded politely, Deschamps led him toward the training ground. "Come on, let's meet some new teammates. This is a brand-new French team."
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