Now set to miss the World Cup following a relapse in training, Chelsea’s N’Golo Kanté will have extra time to focus on what his future holds.
Had he even been half fit, the 31-year-old would have been one of the first names on Didier Deschamps’ list of 26 players selected to head to Qatar, but with that now impossible, the big question is whether he’ll be at Stamford Bridge next season.
The Frenchman’s Chelsea contract expires next summer, meaning he will be free to speak to foreign clubs from January onwards, potentially following in the footsteps of the likes of Antonio Rüdiger and Andreas Christensen, who both left for Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively.
This is what Gianluca Di Marzio reckon could happen when asked about Kanté’s future by Wettfreunde in Germany.
He said: “It’s probably the right time for him to move to a new club and a lot of Italian teams need a player like him. Inter are the only top team in Italy to have someone like him in Brozovic. Juventus, Milan and Roma are all looking for players like him.
“Real Madrid could also be a possibility as Casemiro left for Manchester United. He’s perfect for La Liga. N’Golo Kanté could be an exceptional chance for any top club in the world because of the quality they have. Madrid have Tchouaméni, but a player like Kanté can play for them, or Barcelona if they sell De Jong.”
Starting off as a regular starter for Thomas Tuchel this season, Kanté hasn’t been seen on a football pitch due to injury since the 2-2 draw against Tottenham in mid-August.
Following his arrival from Leicester City back in 2017, the midfielder has made 262 appearances for Chelsea, scoring 13 goals and assisting another 15, winning the league in his first year at Stamford Bridge and lifting the Champions League in 2021.
