"You have the whole world, But Bastia only has you."
This was the passionate confession of Bastia's most devoted fans to De Rocca.
No hoarse screaming, No frenzied outpouring of passion, Only Hélène's melody of "Ce train qui s'en va" quietly echoing through the Stade Cesari.
Only the fans silently raising their banners, telling of this Mediterranean town's deep attachment to De Rocca.
Even more so, The Bastia fans felt that Hélène's original lyrics were so fitting—
"C'est dur de te voir partir"
It's so hard to watch you leave.
The people of Bastia knew that De Rocca would one day leave from here, just like in Hélène's song.
Julien, warming up on the pitch, saw this scene and couldn't help but pause.
For a moment, He wished he could be like Totti, like Bergomi, like Maldini—one man, one city.
Stay here and lead Bastia to the summit.
But, Bastia wasn't Rome, wasn't one of the Milan giants.
This place couldn't contain his dreams; it was destined to be only a starting point. If he wanted to compete with the chosen ones of this era, he had to leave.
Julien waved his arms toward the stands. Responding to the fans.
Then continued his warm-up, working hard to prepare for this match.
He would leave. But before leaving, he would strive to make up for Bastia's regrets and bring them to another peak!
In the locker room.
Hazdibegic patted Lukaku on the shoulder, "Romelu! Find the goal! Remember the goal isn't in the stands or by the corner flag. Forget the shooting feeling from the last match. If you're really not confident, pass the ball to Kevin or Julien."
Lukaku nodded, though he actually disliked this old-school coach Hazdibegic—he talked too much.
He preferred playing with De Rocca; talking with Julien felt very comfortable.
Hazdibegic didn't say much more to Lukaku, having discovered that this young man's head wasn't as sharp as his body.
He looked toward De Bruyne and De Rocca, knowing from training and matches that these two were the players he could truly rely on.
"Come on."
With these two, Hazdibegic didn't say much, just a simple "Come on."
They were very reassuring to Hazdibegic.
De Bruyne glanced at De Rocca—this was basically their first official league partnership. He was rather introverted and hadn't really talked much with Julien since arriving at Bastia.
But he had been quietly observing De Rocca. After all, at Bastia, it was hard not to notice Julien.
He was too famous!
It seemed everything at Bastia was related to De Rocca.
Just like the banner the fans had pulled out during warm-up—"The Song of Julien De Rocca."
The fans of this city were madly infatuated with Julien.
Soon, both teams' players entered the field following the referee through the player tunnel.
De Rocca, as captain, led the way.
When he walked into the Stade Cesari. The roar of sound hit him like a tangible wind, colliding with him head-on.
"JULIEN!!"
The fans' frenzied shouts were completely different from the earlier lyrical moment.
Moreover, On the stands directly facing the player tunnel, fans were pulling various banners—
"Ashes to the indifferent, all glory to our king"
"Julien De Rocca is not just a player. This is a declaration of war"
"The day you chose Bastia, Bastia embraced football"
Many, many more—all banners the fans had created for De Rocca last season.
Now they had all been brought out again.
Such a shocking opening made the Reims players somewhat bitter; they had already experienced De Rocca's prowess in Ligue 2.
Now meeting again at Bastia's first home match.
Looking at this display by the Bastia supporters. It seemed like nothing short of a crushing defeat today would satisfy them.
When De Rocca entered the pitch and turned around to prepare for the opening ceremony, he suddenly discovered that this side of the stands was covered with TIFOs!
From the still burn-marked image of Julien being lifted up holding a trophy;
To him holding a crown looking toward the French mainland;
Then the 1968, 1981 four TIFOs;
Finally, to that huge silhouette of Julien with the words "Bastia embraced football."
These TIFOs seemed to trace Julien's journey since arriving at Bastia.
Tonight, the Bastia fans had displayed them all.
Like a review.
Also, like wanting to remember it all more deeply.
Besides these banners and TIFOs, various versions of "The Song of Julien" also rang out around the stadium.
Julien proceeded with the opening ceremony.
When both teams' players stood in the center circle waiting for kickoff.
Bang! Bang bang!!
Suddenly fireworks sounded from the north stand as Modoso lit them off.
Then someone threw smoke bombs onto the pitch.
Blue smoke quickly spread.
At the same time.
Boom! Boom boom boom!!
Drum beats started up again, and the chanting voices of the die-hard fans in the north stand grew more passionate—
"When you run, the earth trembles
The deep blue legion is your army"
Whoosh!
The other stands stirred with excitement, everyone's gaze turning toward the north stand.
A brand new TIFO was unfurled.
The broadcast cameras quickly provided a close-up—
Julien sliding on his knees in celebration, thunder crackling behind him, wearing a jersey that merged the blue of France and Bastia.
This image, In the blue smoke, appeared even more brilliantly striking.
"JULIEN!"
"JULIEN!!"
"JULIEN!!!"
The fans then chanted his name three times, each call higher than the last!
The moment it ended.
Whistle!!
Right on time for kickoff, the referee blew the whistle to start the match.
The full game officially began.
Clap clap clap!
Fans throughout the Stade Cesari applauded.
Reims kicked off.
Under Bastia's opening display, the Reims players were actually somewhat intimidated.
Bastia immediately pressed aggressively. At home, they were showing a desperate-to-win attitude!
In less than two minutes, Reims lost the ball in midfield.
"Kevin!"
Due to the thick smoke, Cahuzac shouted to De Bruyne while passing the ball to him.
De Bruyne received the ball in midfield. He was the type of midfielder with strong advancing ability. When opposing midfielder Devaux came up to intercept.
De Bruyne suddenly stopped and changed direction, then accelerated, shaking off Devaux.
Charging straight into Reims' territory!
The smoke was thick. But De Bruyne had a rough idea of his teammates' positions in his mind.
He looked toward the front. As the opposition came to defend him, he played the ball out to the right wing.
De Rocca created space to receive the ball. Receiving with his back to goal.
Left-back Fofana, who was marking him, quickly closed in on Julien.
But, Julien didn't stop the ball at all. The moment the ball arrived, he smoothly flicked it backward.
Then turned from the other side past Fofana to collect the ball.
Touch and go!
Whoosh!
Gasps of amazement rippled through the crowd.
Many had worried about Julien's form. But with this one move, doubts dissipated as Julien proved with his performance—
He remained world-class upon his return!
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