Chelsea and France midfielder N’Golo Kante had the opportunity to represent Mali at international level, his former Caen manager, Patrice Garande, has revealed.
The 25-year-old has been a revelation in English football since arriving from the French club over a year ago, as he was one of key players in Leicester City’s remarkable Premier League title triumph last season.
He subsequently earned a big-money move to Chelsea in the summer transfer window.
Furthermore, he made his international debut for Les Bleus shortly before Euro 2016 and featured for the country at the tournament, but only after turning down an approach from Mali about representing them during his spell at Caen.
“I had talked to him at that time, because he hadn’t chosen to play for France,” Garande told ESPN.
“He could also have played for Mali. They wanted him to, he didn’t. I often talked to him about the French national team, telling him: ‘There isn’t a player like you, with your profile in midfield’.
“I always thought he would be an international. He has an incredible ability.”
Garande also expressed a belief that the position Kante was deployed in during the Euros didn’t suit the midfielder.
“He played for France in a position that isn’t his [at Euro 2016], in front of the back four, and he was brilliant. He has incredible potential and he’s also a very intelligent boy who has his feet on the ground.”
Kante is set to come up against former club Leicester for the first time since his departure, as the Blues welcome the Foxes to Stamford Bridge in the early kick-off on Saturday.
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