Under the bright lights of the Stade de France in 2008, a young Stade Rennais side beat Girondins de Bordeaux 3-0 to lift the prestigious Coupe Gambardella. Coming off the bench that day was Derby County’s new signing, Abdoul Camara – however, his journey from youth team to Pride Park has not been a smooth ride.
INTERVIEW: @abdoul_razzagui says #DCFC's ambitions was key to him joining from @sco_angers: https://t.co/qtPi6dQvwv pic.twitter.com/WhgGertvlw
— Derby County (@dcfcofficial) January 5, 2016
Every year, before the Coupe de France final, fans are treated to a match between two of the best under-19 sides in the country. The quality in that Rennes team, seven years on, is clear to see. Sunderland’s Yann M’Vila, former Cardiff City defender Kevin Théophile-Catherine and FC Porto’s Yacine Brahimi started for Rennes – Grezgorz Krychowiak, Henri Saivet and Gabriel Obertan lined up for the opposition.
Rennes won 3-0, with Camara coming off the bench in the 64th minute. As with most youth teams, many of the names from that day have not amounted to anything, and for a while it looked like the young Camara would follow the same path.
He made his debut for the Breton side against Marseille in 2009, but it took a season on loan for Vannes OC in Ligue 2 before he would get his chance in the first team. Over two seasons he only featured 26 times in Ligue 1 before FC Sochaux paid around £1 million to sign the 21-year-old.
Despite his obvious raw abilities, Camara struggled to hold down a regular starting spot – lining up in the first XI for only half of his appearances. After his first goal against Montpellier he went 29 games without finding the net or picking up an assist.
Another loan spell to Greece followed, playing for PAOK before returning to Sochaux, but it wasn’t until he left on a free to SCO Angers that his career really started to gain traction. Camara joined forces with Jonathan Kodjia and Sofiane Boufal to form a dangerous three-man attack that would finish third in Ligue 2 and help SCO win promotion.
Boufal moved to Lille last January and Kodjia signed with Bristol City in the summer, and it’s no surprise that Derby County and other English clubs were keeping tabs on the 25-year-old. With six goals and two assists, he didn’t quite have the same impact as the other two, but his speed, hard work and direct style definitely played a role in helping Stephane Moulin’s team reach the heights of Ligue 1.
Going into the winter break, Angers sat third in the French top division and are undoubtedly one of the stories of the season around Europe. SCO’s success has been built on a strong defence, only conceding 11 goals in 19 games.
In attack, it’s not been as impressive; only four clubs have scored less than Angers’ 17 goals this season. Where they have been good is on the counter-attack, with Camara at the forefront. He has been reported as being one of the fastest players in the league – which is hard to dispute – and it’s that speed that has made him a great outlet as Angers try and hit on the break.
Camara is not a traditional centre-forward, although he can play across the front line. Most comfortable when he is on the left, he combines his pace with a persistent, direct style, looking to commit defenders to create opportunities.
Although Angers line up playing 4-3-3, it more closely resembles a 4-5-1 when they don’t have the ball, relying on the wide players to help protect the full-backs, before bursting forward. Former Derby County man Gilles Sunu has played on the opposite side from Camara and as he doesn’t have the same speed, most of their counter-attacks come down the left.
Traditionally, wingers who develop in France don’t tend to enjoy – when they are asked to – tracking back. Camara is more of a left-midfielder than an old-fashioned winger, so he takes his defensive responsibilities seriously, something that will be needed in the Championship – and more so in the Premier League if Derby can win promotion.
LISTEN: Who is Abdoul Camara? @Gibney_A profiles Derby County's new addition https://t.co/jtkrUvPCFF #dcfcfans pic.twitter.com/D9qOeqa66r
— BBC Derby Sport (@BBCDerbySport) January 5, 2016
Camara’s biggest weakness going forward has to be his distribution. For someone who plays in attack, he doesn’t notch up enough assists to really take his game to the next level. He had just two assists in Ligue 2, and hasn’t managed any this season. That will need to improve if he wants to make an impact in England.
What he does give you is a relentless threat down the channels. When on the right, he loves to take on his marker and look to shoot on his left foot. Blessed with quick feet and an eye for goal, his non-stop running style will prove a constant menace to full-backs up and down the country.
Out of contract in the summer, it was always likely that Angers would cash in, rather than see Camara leave for free. Paying around £1.2 million, Derby are picking up a great deal this winter.
A late developer, there is nothing to say that the 25-year-old has reached his peak just yet. Derby will be hoping he can find a few more gears…he certainly has the raw attributes to excite and delight the Pride Park faithful.