Now an established part of Didier Deschamps France squad and a member of Antonio Conte’s Chelsea revolution, N’Golo Kanté’s life couldn’t be much better right now.
Helping his national team overcome Italy 3-1 on Thursday night, the former Leicester star revealed in So Foot this month he received a call from José Mourinho, which has got everyone thinking what could have been.
However, the 25-year-old also touched upon his transfer from Caen to Leicester, the club where he made a name for himself internationally, and revealed he did need some convincing despite not being worried about being lost in England.
Kanté explained to So Foot: “I went to visit the infrastructures. I compared them with those of Caen, and it was superior. Then Ranieri reassured me. Before I signed, I asked him why he was interested and he showed me a tape of what I did at Caen.
“I felt there was something that could be achieved with this team, even if I never dreamed that it could win a title.”
Just before he joined, the club had narrowly avoided relegation and three of the club’s players, who were then sacked, had been caught up in a sex tape scandal.
Unflappable, the defensive midfielder then signed and the rest is history.
Kanté has played a part in all of Chelsea’s Premier League games so far this season, and if he stays fit, we fully expect him to complete the other 35, too.
