Arriving in a £31.5m deal from Saint-Etienne, few expected Wesley Fofana to play such an integral part in Leicester City’s 2020-21 campaign.
The centre-back has been a key member of Brendan Rodgers’ squad this season, and, much to the manager’s credit, he hasn’t disappointed so far.
Fofana has taken to Premier League football like a duck to water, and the talent already on display in his early days in France is clear for all to see.
However, not only is Rodgers one of the reasons why the 20-year-old is growing as quickly as he is today, but he’s also behind the player’s decision to leave everything he knew behind and try his luck in England at a young age.
Fofana told Canal Plus in an interview: “I’d spoken to him before coming, when we were negotiating between Leicester and Saint-Etienne. Directly, I was gripped by the project. I wanted to come. Basically, he was direct with me, told me things clearly, that he wasn’t going to hand me anything and that it was up to me to win my spot here.
“The door was open, and now, he’s always behind me. It’s important, I need that, I’m a young player. Let’s say that he’s like an overprotective father”.
Since joining in the summer, Fofana has already featured 33 times in all competitions for the Foxes, picking up one assist along the way.
The future is bright for the France U21 international, and it won’t be long before bigger clubs come knocking, meaning Leicester will have to set up barricades if they want to keep the talent for the foreseeable future.
