“It’s beautiful, it’s always fun. Besides, it’s at home, even if I would have liked the kops to be there to celebrate with them. It’s a shame. But in any case, it is a magnificent feeling to score in Ligue 1 … “ Saturday evening, on the lawn of the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium, Mahdi Camara was in heaven. And the Stéphanois midfielder did not hide his satisfaction at the microphone of Canal +. Smiling from ear to ear, he had enough to let his joy burst out. A few minutes earlier, he had scored the second goal of the Greens, winners (2-0) against Strasbourg. His first personally in Ligue 1, therefore. At 22, the native of Martigues is at a turning point in his young career.
Launched in L1 in August 2018 by Jean-Louis Gasset, Camara then went on to battle in Ligue 2, on loan to Laval. Then, last season, he began to make a place for himself in the Saint-Etienne squad (21 appearances in all competitions, 2 goals, 1 in the Coupe de France and 1 in the Europa League). To the point of becoming essential in the midfield. Holder alongside Yann M’Vila in the final of the Coupe de France against PSG (1-0 defeat), he was replaced at the break by Yvan Neyou, another youngster trained in Forez. Then he played 90 minutes against Lorient (2-0, 2nd daye) and Strasbourg (2-0, 3rd day) with a goal.
OM wanted it but missed it
Tomorrow, it would therefore not be surprising that Claude Puel lines up the entry on the lawn of the Vélodrome. A first in the walls of Boulevard Michelet which could take place under the watchful eyes of Amadou and Frédérique, his parents. And that Camara could have argued with the OM jersey on his shoulders since Olympian officials had spotted him when he was playing at FC Martigues.
“His older brother, Malal, played for OM, tell Amadou and Frédérique, and very quickly the club leaders told us that they were interested in the kid. But he was still too young and we didn’t want certain things to be put in his mind. Then we got angry with them about his big brother and we told them not to come and hook us up (sic) for Mahdi. “ A quarrel that made the business of Saint-Étienne, while OGC Nice was also interested in the profile of this pocket midfielder (1.76 m, 69 kg) that Rafik Allaf, recruiter for the Greens in the region, compared to a certain Blaise Matuidi.
A strong character
“When ASSE wanted it, they never let go, Pierre-Louis Honde still remembers, Mahdi’s educator in U13 in Martigues. He had enormous technical qualities, he was very lively, but he was still physically handicapped because he was a small build. On the other hand, on the field, he made the difference by his vision of the game and his ability to make others play. He was a great competitor, he had the grind. “ A strong character which also led him to leave his first position, that of goalkeeper, to pass into the field.
“He was good, he was a good little keeper, underlines Patrick Vandezande, its manager when he was a chick, but one day he got angry and didn’t want to be a guard anymore. He changed jobs with my son Romain and it started like that … “
Over the years, Mahdi Camara has asserted himself. Assagi, too. “He has matured, relieve his parents. When he left home at 14, he knew what he wanted to do and he knew why he was going to Saint-Étienne. ” An unwavering determination that has undoubtedly helped him to push his limits. “At the time, concludes Pierre-Louis Honde, he was a very good player, but I really didn’t think he would finish in Ligue 1. I was pleasantly surprised, and I’m very proud of him. “ He is probably not the only one.