What was the first kit you owned?

A Marseille kit. The first kit I ever had was a Didier Drogba Marseille shirt, he was my hero when I was young.

What was the first team you played for?

The first team I remember playing for in France was Repos Vitrolles in Marseille, that’s the club where I started football.

Do you remember the coaches you had there?

Of course, I remember everything! We had red shirts and I remember all the coaches. I still see some people from there when I go back to Marseille. It was a good moment. The coaches were very good, they worked with a little bit troubled kids, but I was a good kid, a very nice kid. I’m the same guy now!

Who was your first friend in football?

There are a lot of them so I couldn’t say just one. When you start playing on the streets with friends you play on the same team, and those friends I had as a kid from the same area as me are still my friends now.

Who was the first room-mate you remember on away trips?

I had a lot of friends I stayed with for games, but Mahdi Camara stayed with me when I played my first game as a professional in France with Saint-Etienne. It was good because he is a little bit older than me, was a little bit more experienced, so I felt more confident with him. The away games I always remember when I played for Saint-Etienne in France was when we played against Malo’s [Gusto] club Lyon. It was tough, but every time we won! But I remember when we were kids and I played against Malo. It was tough.

What is the first game and goal of yours that you remember?

The first proper game I can remember playing was when I was only 10 years old, because I played in the Stade Velodrome in Marseille, in the youth cup. The first goal I remember was as a professional for Saint-Etienne, when we beat Nice in the league.

When was the first time someone recognised you in public?

It was in Marseille, when I was back during the holidays and one young guy recognised me, but I’d never played for the first team before that. So he recognised me and I was really surprised, because it was before I’d started playing professionally, but it was a good moment and I was happy. When he recognised me, some other people saw and came over to get pictures with me as well, even though they didn’t know who I was!

What was your first emotion when you signed for Chelsea?

There were a lot of emotions, because when I was younger I supported Chelsea and I remember when I was a kid and playing outside wearing the shirt. So I was just thinking of those good memories and I was very happy, because when you are a kid and you have a dream and you realise your dream, it’s the best feeling in the world.