🚨 Yan Diomandé’s heartbreaking tribute to his little sister Roxane, who passed away at the age of 15. 🇨🇮 “You remember when someone bought me a fake United shirt and I wrote Ronaldo 7 on the back with a black marker? You remember when we used to sit together and dream about going to live in France? That we would go shopping, have our own apartment, that I would become a rich footballer with cars and a big house, and that you would never have to worry about anything. You were the one who always believed I would be the next Cristiano, when everyone else laughed. I had trials at Bournemouth, Chelsea, Rangers, Olympiakos, Crystal Palace... Even MLS reserve teams didn’t want me. I didn’t even know why. My visa expired. My dream ended. They sent me back to Africa and we cried together. You were the only one who never stopped believing. A few weeks later, I signed for Leganés and we cried different tears. Today, I feel nothing. It’s like I’m not even human anymore. Since you died, I’m just empty. I broke down, and they didn’t even try to soften the blow. No emotion. Just: ‘Your sister is gone.’ Someone put something in her drink at a party and she never woke up. She was gone. You were 15. 15 years old. Tomorrow, we leave for the World Cup. For real. Your brother is going to play for Ivory Coast, like Drogba, like Yaya, like Gervinho. Every time I score a goal, I will make sure the whole world knows your name. I will fulfil what you predicted, I swear. I will prove you right or die trying.” Strength and courage to him. 😢❤️ 🗞️ The Players’ Tribune