'I leave with a heavy, broken heart... but my blood is and will always be a little pink'

Djibril Camara has penned an emotional open letter to Stade Francais fans after his stint at the club was ended by dismissal for alleged serious misconduct.  

The 29-year-old back, capped four times by France, fellow foul of the club during the season and after it was confirmed he would not be returning, he decided to address the Parisian team’s supporters via social media.  

“There, it’s finished,” he wrote. “Sometimes destiny, or the chance of life, makes one have to leave dear people. Essential people, people who gave us a lot. 

“You, the supporters of Stade Francais, count among those. This message of goodbye is the expression of my deep emotion, of my gratitude. Stade Francais was, for me, much more than a club. It was my family, my pedestal, my desire to surpass myself. Here, I lived exceptional moments, I grew up and built my life as a man.

“I arrived at the age of 13 through my friend Jeremy Fumey. I was still a child. In 2006, with a fabulous generation, we were French junior champions. In my head, there are still mages of joy, happiness and joy. It was the time of carelessness. 

L'ancien joueur du Stade français, @camaradjibril4, s'adresse aux supporters ?https://t.co/9bj6Zp4ruA

— RUGBYRAMA (@RugbyramaFR) June 19, 2019

“I had the chance to go with the under-18 team, to enter the Stade Francais training centre and sign my first professional contract. I was only 18 years old and my head was full of dreams. These dreams, I partly accomplished them. 

“I obviously want to thank Max Guazzini without whom nothing would have been possible. What a president he was! 

“I still remember my first try for the professional team. It was against Dax. It was yesterday. I treasure every day the chance I had to wear this jersey with players like Christophe Dominici, Julien Dupuy, Mathieu Bastareaud, Juan Hernandez, Antoine Burban, Sergio Parisse, Sylvain Marconnet, David Auradou, Nani Corletto and many others. It’s hard to mention them all…

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Aux amoureux du stade français

A post shared by Djibril Camara (@djibril_camara) on Jun 19, 2019 at 2:07am PDT

“At the moment of leaving, I also have an emotional thought for Thomas Savare and Pierre Arnald. They have been much criticised, but I can assure you that they have always been kind to me as with the club. 

“The title of champion of France in 2015 will forever be engraved in my memory. Just like the European title in 2017. Thanks to you Gonzalo (Queseda) for having taken the trouble to understand me and to have made the best of myself. 

“I would have loved to follow the footsteps of Pierre Rabadan and make my career at Stade Francais. Alas, it is not possible. 

“Another adventure opens before me. We’ll see each other soon here and there, on a pitch or somewhere else. I leave with a heavy, broken heart. But my blood is and will always be a little pink.”

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