According to French media outlet So Foot, Roma midfielder Koné has entered the discussion for top midfielders, with Chelsea and Manchester United both having shown interest in him.

On Friday evening at the Stade de France, Kouadio Koné will face a team he knows well: Italy. More than two years ago, he made his France debut against this very team. Since then, the young midfielder from Colombes has transformed, even entering discussions about the best midfielders in Europe.

On September 6, 2022, Kouadio Koné made his France debut at the Parc des Princes. He came off the bench in the 58th minute, but France quickly found themselves on the back foot, ultimately losing 1-3 to Italy. More than two years later, when he faces the same Azzurri on Friday, he will likely start, and his status has long since changed. Koné first experienced relegation to Ligue 2 with Toulouse, then ventured to Germany, and finally settled at Roma, where he continued to develop. Pedri, Vitinha, Bellingham, Rice, Rodri, Kimmich, Enzo, Fabian Ruiz, Szoboszlai, Neves, and national teammate Zaïre-Emery all have reasons to be among the elite. The list is long, but if one were to choose the top five midfielders today, Kouadio Koné at least deserves to be included in the discussion. Here's why.

The first challenge Koné faces is that his club is not in the most prominent position. 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 being consistently in discussions for the world's best players. Koné, however, plays for Roma. Roma is certainly a top club, but the French midfielder still receives less attention than star players at other major European clubs. Even when he played for Borussia Mönchengladbach, he didn't generate widespread acclaim in France, as the Bundesliga isn't always closely followed there. In recent months, many have been rediscovering him, while Roma fans have long since given him a nickname: the Wolf of Roma.

Koné often lacked consistency in the past, struggling to fully showcase his strengths over consecutive matches. At Roma, this issue has gradually disappeared. Ranieri quickly noticed this. In December 2024, the former Roma coach said he considered Koné "a powerful player" when watching him play, while also asking him to be more decisive about when to drive forward and when to play two-touch passes. Koné has also learned to slow down, better manage his physical exertion, and make smarter decisions on the pitch. Koné stated at a press conference this Wednesday: "Since coming to Italy, I've become more focused and have improved in managing my physical output."

It is this consistency that has made Koné one of the first names on Roma's starting lineup. Even if Ranieri changes formations or adjusts his role, Koné remains central to the plans. Last May, the Italian coach said he hoped Koné would "continue to play for Roma," despite ongoing transfer rumors.

For some time now, Koné has been more than just the midfielder who could break through defenses with explosive acceleration and then slide into opponents. He can now play as a single defensive midfielder, a central midfielder, or in a double pivot system; he can push forward, tackle, protect the ball under pressure, and handle the ball in tight spaces. Koné said on Wednesday: "A midfielder must be able to adapt to multiple positions, and I believe I have that ability."

Ranieri had previously deployed Koné in the defensive midfield role, emphasizing that he "really, really likes" him in that position. Koné, in turn, summarized his role as a hybrid of "number six plus number eight." This role is equivalent to a two-in-one midfielder, and his weaknesses are far fewer than before. Koné's goal tally has also started to increase. On September 19, in a Serie A match against Inter Milan, he scored two goals within 30 minutes, with the match ultimately ending in a 2-2 draw.

When a player becomes consistent, versatile, and influential, scouts usually take notice. Koné also had standout performances for France at the FIFA World Cup. This summer, Chelsea actively pursued a deal to sign Koné. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Chelsea and Roma had even agreed on a €60 million transfer, but Roma was unable to find a suitable replacement for Koné, and the deal ultimately fell through. Meanwhile, Manchester United also showed interest in acquiring him that summer, with Koné's full name, Kouadio Emmanuel Boris Koné, briefly appearing on their shortlist. Ranieri had no intention of letting Koné leave. In late August, when Chelsea continued to push, he responded: "Koné can leave? Absolutely not."

The subsequent developments are not hard to imagine. At 25, for a player whose physique and career trajectory are relatively normal, he is entering his prime years. Koné no longer just needs to prove he's a good midfielder; now he must continue to prove he can reach the very top. If France's number 8 maintains his current trajectory, it will be difficult for the top clubs to continue ignoring him. On Friday, against Italy, Koné will also face his Roma teammates Gianluca Mancini and Bryan Cristante. Unlike two years ago, this time he is not a newcomer making his national team debut. As Deschamps' new favorite, he will be tasked with anchoring the midfield, just as he has consistently done for both club and country.

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