From The Observer:
It is fair to say that the Cameroonian role model for Eric Djemba-Djemba, who is set, shortly, to sign for Manchester United, was Marc-Vivien Foé. After all it was Foé - who died while playing for his country against Colombia on Thursday - who underpinned the Africans' success in recent years.
Foé was 28. Djemba-Djemba is now 22 and they played together in Cameroon's victory in the 2002 African Nations Cup. That was when the younger of the defensive midfield pairing began to understand what international football is all about, helped by the former Manchester City man.
Talk about being brought down to earth; at Old Trafford Nantes were flattened 5-1. He adds: 'Keane was outstanding in that game. Frankly, if you tell me I am going to play with him I would be very happy. He's got a strong character and it would really make me happy to play alongside him. He plays hard. He is a role model for me, along with Claude Makelele and Patrick Vieira. If I can have a career like theirs I will be happy.'
' Franchement, Roy Keane c'est le patron, le chef ,' is the extrovert's impression of the Irishman. They met in a Champions League game in February last year, when the African had just returned to Nantes after helping Cameroon retain their continental title in Mali.
'When I was little I followed United. And because my name is Eric, too, everyone used to call me Cantona. Nantes then took me to France. I played up front, but they saw that I played hard and so they put me in midfield.'
'Manchester is a super city and a great club. They play in all the big competitions and I really want to go there. It's a challenge and if I go there I will be happy.'
With a tap at his head he adds: 'I know there is competition and I am ready. You have to work. You have to always improve and keep learning. I'm going to learn every day, every day, every day.'