Manchester United have announced the signing of Mali youth international Sekou Kone from Guidars FC in his homeland.
The defensive midfielder, who only turned 18 in February, caught the eye of multiple clubs across Europe following his displays at the Under-17 World Cup. But Manchester United have beaten several clubs to the player’s signature, regarded as one of the brightest talents in Africa.
The Red Devils have snapped up Sekou Kone for a bargain fee of just £1.25 million after the teenager was scouted intensely since last year. He will initially join the academy, giving him time to settle down in Manchester and get to grips with English football. The Mali prospect becomes the club’s fifth signing of the summer transfer window, after the arrivals of Leny Yoro, Joshua Zirkzee, Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt.
All the summer signings Man United have made this summer lack Premier League experience but there is an element of forward-planning and vision at the club under INEOS—spearheaded by Sir Jim Ratcliffe—who are enjoying their first transfer window as minority shareholders. They have tried changing the culture at the club which has been more or less toxic since Sir Alex Ferguson retired.
It has seen INEOS change the club’s recruitment strategy and planning to land first-team players who are hungry talents with the potential to develop—instead of depreciating assets such as Casemiro—so they can be sold on for big profits in the future. And they have gone further with the acquisition of Kone.
Man United have unearthed a gem in Sekou Kone
Kone has already made a name for himself in the Under-17 World Cup in Indonesia last year. Starting all seven games for his nation Mali, he contributed two assists and gave a glimpse of his scary potential to influence the game from a deeper midfield role.
A player with good passing ability, tenacious tackling and an eye for goal, the Mali youth international ticks a lot of boxes that Erik ten Hag and his coaching staff are looking in for a controlling midfielder. Should he progress in the academy as intended, it would be expected that Kone will get chances in the first-team under Ten Hag in the next couple of years.
One of the most promising African talents, Man United beating a host of clubs for Kone’s signature is a sign of a shift in the club’s recruitment approach and strategy under INEOS.
I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7.
