OM: Hamed Junior Traoré, the Ivorian flame ready to ignite the Vélodrome

Hamed Junior Traoré was live this afternoon with Diana (@dianamlhm) to answer fans' questions, a moment that allowed people to get to know the player beyond the pitch.

An arrival marked by confidence

Barely arrived, Traoré sets the tone: « I feel good. Everyone welcomed me well: players, fans, the club as a whole. I felt like I'd been here for a long time. »

No big speeches, just a genuine feeling. His settling-in has been straightforward, with a dressing room that immediately opened the door to him. In Marseille, those first steps often count as much as performances on the pitch.

De Zerbi, the common thread

If OM managed to attract him, it was first thanks to a phone call. « I already knew Roberto... He explained the project, what he wanted. I trust him, I didn't hesitate. »

That relationship is at the heart of his choice. De Zerbi is not just a coach: he's the one who instilled in him versatility, the ability to adapt to every attacking position. « He put it in my head that I had to be strong everywhere. » A philosophy Traoré embodies today, ready to blend into the team.

Between Italy and Ivory Coast, a formative journey

Having arrived in Italy as a minor, Traoré speaks of the country as his “second home”: « It was Italy that allowed me to become a pro. Tactically, technically, personally: over there, they tell you 'be a man.' It shaped me. »

But his Ivorian roots have never left him. « OM and Ivory Coast, it's a matter of love. We grew up with that. And there was our idol, Drogba. » Enough said: wearing the Marseille shirt also means carrying on a legacy.

A clear ambition: to give everything

Traoré doesn't hide: « My goal: to meet OM's objectives, add my bit, play as much as possible. AFCON, the World Cup... it all starts with a good season in Marseille. »

And on the pitch, he promises a radical change: « I'm calm in life, but on the pitch I become a warrior. I give my all so I can be satisfied when I walk off. »

OM, Ivory Coast, same fight

As the interview goes on, a common thread emerges: OM as an extension of his identity. Drogba, Yaya Touré, the older brothers who lived and breathed OM in Ivory Coast, even his first coach, a “crazy Marseille fan”... Every memory tells the same story. Today, it's his turn to take up the torch: « Keep supporting OM all season, give us strength — we need it. »

A promise to the Olympian faithful

Versatile, forged by Italy, inspired by his African roots, buoyed by De Zerbi's trust: Hamed Junior Traoré didn't come to Marseille to find himself. He already knows who he is, and why he's here. Now it's about turning his promises into deeds at the Vélodrome.