ARNAUD DJOUM insists he will be returning to Tynecastle on cloud nine after his boyhood hero Clarence Seedorf handed him Cameroon’s No.10 jersey.
The Hearts midfielder admits he was starstruck when he first reported for international duty under Seedorf last year, having idolised him as a player.
However, the 29-year-old has wasted no time in dazzling the Dutchman, with Djoum handed a pivotal role in midfield for their crunch Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Comoros on Saturday.
Needing a draw to assure their place at this summer’s Africa Cup of Nations, Djoum notched an assist on his 20th international appearance and helped the Indomitable Lions cruise to a 3-0 triumph in Yaounde.
Djoum added that, given the distinction with which Seedorf wore it with such as AC Milan and Real Madrid, it was the number on his back that left him lost for words.
He said: “When he gave me the No.10 jersey, that was like a dream. When a player like him thinks you can do that role in the team, it shows that you must be doing something right. When I was a little younger, I used to look at his style and he was one of my idols in football. He is the sort of player you could look at and say: ‘that’s who I want to be!’ The first time I met him, it was just enough to see him in front of me and shake his hand. It was like ‘I used to watch you on TV!’ You don’t think that one day he will be your coach.
“But it becomes very professional quickly and I trained hard and worked to impress him. He played in a similar position to me and I just want to listen to him and learn from him. The attention to detail is incredible and he knows that the tiniest things can make the biggest difference at the top level.”
As well as securing safe passage to the showpiece in Egypt, Djoum reckons the impressive nature of their triumph is a statement of intent as Cameroon seek to make it two in a row.
He said: “It was the perfect time to put in such a good performance, with the African Nations Cup coming up. It was like saying ‘Cameroon is still here’. We are going there to defend our title successfully.”
🇨🇲🇨🇲🙏🏼 #AD10 #ThanksGod🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/fZt2cnMwr8
— Arnaud Djoum (@ADjoumiste) March 25, 2019
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It is not the only piece of silverware in his sights as Djoum pursues a successful finale to the campaign. While his initial focus is on an ‘unbelievable’ run of games against Aberdeen, Rangers and Hibs prior to the split, he has allowed himself to imagine bringing the Scottish Cup back to Tynecastle.
Hearts face Championship side Inverness in the semi-final and, should they progress, will meet Celtic or Aberdeen in May.
Djoum added: “Everything that has happened this week has given me a lot of positive energy. “I have already been thinking about what it would be like to win the Scottish Cup. Winning a trophy with Hearts is something I want to achieve so much and I really believe we have the quality in the team to do it.”
Djoum, meanwhile, has not ruled out extending his stay in the capital after he was linked with a switch to French side Toulouse.
“I haven’t made any decision on my future yet. Important games are coming up and it would be unfair if I was not totally concentrated on what I can do for my club,” said Djoum, who is out of contract at the end of the season.
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