N’Golo Kantè arrived at Leicester in August 2015, being signed from French club Caen for a fee of £5million. He had no international experience and not been capped at any youth levels at all. He was 24 years of age when signed, and had been on the Leicester City wish list for almost a year.
Claudio Ranieri probably just said yes to a deal as it looked a pre-settled move from Steve Walsh and his scouting team and that the transfer would have gone through even with another manager in charge. But to Claudio Ranieri’s defense he introduced Kantè as fast as he was ready to play and had of course knowledge of his abilities and talent.
The fact that the 2015/16 season was to become his only at the club was of course a massive blow for fans and management at Leicester City, being of so much influence for that incredible run of games and in the end winning the title.
Few might know that N’Golo joined Caen in the 2nd tier of French football and was part of a team that clinched promotion and he was again vital in the climb to the top for his French team.
During his only season at Leicester City he scored one single goal in those league games, but became so vital in the midfield engine room together with Danny Drinkwater. Antonio Contè was the one convincing Kantè to jump ship at Leicester City and join him at Chelsea.
It all became a great and sensational move as N’Golo just went on to win yet another Premier League title and later as we all know became a key player in the French team that hammered Croatia in the World Cup final and lifted that trophy as well.
Still a great player at Chelsea, but lately been a bit in and out with injuries and not been able to lift “The Blues” to the heights as we all could see in his first couple of seasons. We were a bit surprised as Leicester City fans to see N’Golo Kantè leaving so fast and after only one season.
Would have been fun to have seen him a bit more in a Leicester City shirt and maybe the fall from the top could have been avoided and Kantè being part of a team that could have won more trophies and maybe had some great days in the Champions League.
Since leaving Leicester City, N’Golo has passed the 100 mark in PL games for Chelsea and also come to a strong tally of internationals, added up to 39 at this moment for France.
FACTFILE:
- Full Name: N’Golo Kantè
- Position: Midfield
- Date of Birth: 29.03.1991
- Birthplace: Paris
- Nation: France
- Caps / Goals: –
- Major League Career:
- 2012-13, Bolougne (38/3)
- 2013-15, Caen (75/4)
- 2015-16, Leicester City (37/1)
- 2016->, Chelsea (123/9)
- Links
- Category
Leave a Reply