According to French publication So Foot, Roma midfielder Kouadio Koné has entered the conversation among elite midfielders, with Chelsea and Manchester United taking interest.

On Friday evening at Stade de France, Kouadio Koné will face a familiar opponent—Italy. More than two years ago, he made his France debut against this very team. Since then, the young talent from Colombes has transformed, even entering the conversation as one of the elite midfielders.

On September 6, 2024, Kouadio Koné made his France debut at Parc des Princes. He came on as a substitute in the 58th minute, but France conceded quickly and lost to Italy 1–3. More than two years later, when he faces the same Azzurri on Friday, he will likely start, and his status has changed dramatically. Koné first experienced relegation to Ligue 2 with Toulouse, then moved to Germany, and finally settled at Roma, where he continued to develop. Pedri, Vitinha, Bellingham, Rice, Rodri, Kimmich, Enzo, Fabián Ruiz, Szoboszlai, Neves, and fellow French international Zaïre-Emery all have claims to elite status. The list is long, but if one had to pick the five best midfielders right now, Kouadio Koné at least deserves to be in the conversation. Here's why.

The first challenge Koné faces is that his club is not among the most prominent. Pedri plays for Barcelona, Bellingham for Real Madrid, Vitinha and João Neves for Paris Saint-Germain, and Rice for Arsenal. These clubs are accustomed to constant discussion about the world's best players. Koné, however, plays for Roma. Roma is certainly a major club, but this French midfielder still receives less attention than star players at other leading European clubs. His time at Borussia Mönchengladbach also did not bring him widespread recognition in France, as the Bundesliga is not always closely followed. In recent months, many are reacquainted with him, while Roma fans have long given him the nickname "Roma's Wolf."

Koné previously lacked consistency, struggling to fully display his qualities every few days. At Roma, this issue has gradually disappeared. Ranieri quickly noticed this. In December 2024, Roma's former coach said that watching him play, he felt Koné was a "powerful player," and urged him to better judge when to dribble forward and when to play short passes. Koné has also learned to slow down, better manage his energy, containing his bursts and risky decisions. Koné said at Wednesday's press conference: "Since arriving in Italy, I have become more focused and improved my physical management."

This consistency has made Koné one of Roma's first names in the starting lineup. Even when manager Ghislieri adjusts the formation or modifies his role, Koné remains central to his plans. Last May, the Italian coach said he hoped Koné would "continue playing for Roma," despite transfer speculation at the time. Is the goal this season the Serie A title?

For some time now, Koné is more than just a midfielder who can burst through a defense with a quick acceleration and then win the ball back from opponents with a smile. Now he can play as a defensive midfielder, center midfielder, or in a double-pivot system; he can drive forward, win possession, shield the ball under pressure, and handle it in tight spaces. Koné said Wednesday: "A midfielder must be able to adapt to multiple positions, and I feel I have that ability."

Ranieri previously deployed Koné as a defensive midfielder and emphasized that he "very, very much liked" how he played there. Koné, in turn, described his role as a hybrid of the "six and eight." This role is equivalent to a "two-in-one" midfielder, and his weaknesses have also diminished significantly. Koné's goal tally has also begun to rise. On September 19 in a Serie A match against Inter Milan, he scored his first career brace within 30 minutes, with the match ending 2–2.

When a player becomes consistent, versatile, and influential in matches, scouts usually take notice. Koné has also delivered outstanding performances for France at the World Cup. Last summer, Chelsea actively pursued a deal to sign Koné. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Chelsea and Roma even agreed on a transfer for €60 million, but Roma could not find a replacement for Koné, and the deal ultimately fell through. Meanwhile, Manchester United also monitored the situation that summer, and Koné's full name, Kouadio Emmanuel Boris Koné, was once on their shortlist. Ghislieri had no intention of letting Koné leave. In late August, when Chelsea continued to push, he responded: "Koné leave? Absolutely not."

What comes next is not hard to imagine. At 25, for a player whose physical condition and career trajectory remain sound, this is the beginning of his peak years. Koné no longer merely needs to prove he is a good midfielder; now he must also continue proving he can reach the highest level. If France's number 8 maintains his current trajectory, these top clubs will find it hard to continue ignoring him. On Friday against Italy, Koné will also face his Roma teammates Gianluca Mancini, Bryan Cristante, and Matías Viña. Unlike two years ago, this time he is no longer a debutant for the national team. As one of Deschamps' preferred options, he will be tasked with anchoring the midfield, as he has consistently done both for his club and country.

Переведено ИИ.

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