Crutches in his hands, his leg in an imposing splint, Axel Bamba watches while his teammates are sleeping, the training of Paris FC this Thursday morning.
The 22-year-old center-back is smiling.
Victim of a hamstring tendon rupture on July 14 during a friendly match in Reims, he was operated on at the end of last week at the Clinique du Sport in Paris.
For two years, the child of the club where he has played since the age of 11, had established himself as an important element of the team and had the largest market value of the workforce.
His transfer was an option also considered by the leaders.
But he will be absent at least until the end of the year.
He gives his news.
How are you doing ?
AXEL BAMBA.
There, it's okay.
The operation went very well, it heals well.
I have no more pain, I sleep well, I manage to walk again.
The most difficult times are behind me.
I have always shown that I am strong, I don't like showing my weaknesses but it was hard anyway… It is the first and biggest injury of my career.
Do you remember the circumstances of your injury?
I felt it let go behind my thigh.
I lay down on the floor.
I felt immediately that it was serious.
I asked for the stretcher.
I understood it was broken.
The days that followed I was really not well.
Three days later, there was my sister's wedding.
I wasn't smiling, I wasn't talking… I wasn't the real Axel.
I had taken a big blow to morale.
I kept asking myself:
why me, why now?
You were likely to be transferred this summer.
Your agent was discussing with clubs of L1, Serie A and Liga… Is it a stop in your career?
It spoke a lot.
I wasn't too used to seeing my name mentioned and being talked about so much on social media.
But, I managed.
Even without the injury, I would not have been sure of being transferred.
So, I don't have to worry about it.
Paris FC is my club and I have always said that I wanted to play in L1 with him.
I still have two years on the contract, so I don't mind continuing here.
Read alsoAxel Bamba, the pride of the Balard district
Did you speak with Lamine Diaby Fadiga facing a similar injury to yours last season?
Yes, he and Hugo (Editor's note: Gambor) had hamstring surgery.
They had relapsed and they convinced me to have an operation.
At first, I didn't want to and I am stubborn.
But I understood that it was the best solution.
I had been playing strapped for too long and sooner or later it would have given up.
That's what the surgeon told me.
What scares me is that Lamine had been away for more than six months.
I will use his experience, pay attention to my care.
It's like I have to start all over again
What deadlines have you set for yourself to regain the competition?
We expect a return in November-December.
There I will do my care for a month at the center in Orly.
It allows me to see my teammates, it's important.
When I returned, they applauded me in the locker room.
I was able to celebrate the victory against Grenoble with them (4-0).
I felt that some were touched for me.
It is heartwarming.
I don't want to be alone at home, watching the games from my sofa.
I want to continue to participate in group life.
After, in a month, I will go to rehabilitation, certainly to Capbreton with Youssoupha Ndiaye (Editor's note: victim of an ankle fracture) like that, we will be together.
Paris FC will recruit a central defender to replace you.
Are you ready to take on the competition when you return?
I am aware that I will have to redo my proofs. There is a new staff who don't know me. My two beautiful seasons, we forget them. It's like I have to start all over again. I am ready for this. There will be a new Axel Bamba in a few months… I want to come back stronger.