On summer deadline day, Manchester United completed the signing of Sékou Koné from Malian side Guidars FC.
The 18-year-old has already played for the Red Devils in the UEFA Youth League and U21s this season.
Africa Foot had a chat with Koné to find out what he experienced when he found out about Manchester United’s desire to sign him.
The defensive midfielder has revealed he was on ‘cloud nine’ after the English club made an offer for him.
“At first, I didn’t expect to sign for Manchester United. When I was presented with the offer, I was on cloud nine. Manchester United are a great club in world football and I can only be delighted with this choice, which will enable me to move up the ladder,” he said.
The report claims Red Bull Salzburg wanted to secure his services and were negotiating for months before the Premier League side beat them to his signature.
Africa Foot asked the Malian why he picked Manchester United over the Austrian side. When responding to that, the youngster explained he was pleased with the Old Trafford club’s decision to bet on him.
“It’s a demanding club that has won the title 20 times. It’s also a club that knows how to spot good opportunities,” Koné explained.
“They made a big offer for a kid from Mali, despite the fact that I had everything to prove. And to be honest, you can’t turn down Manchester United. I’ve always said to myself that it was a choice of the heart, because I’ve loved Manchester United since I was a kid.”
The young midfielder is yet to make an appearance for Ruben Amorim’s side and remains confident of getting opportunities in the senior team in the future. He also played down any concerns around his immediate situation at Manchester United.
“I understand the concern about my future in the short term, but I’m not worried at all,” he added.
“A lot of youngsters have been launched, like CR7 [Cristiano Ronaldo], Rashford and most recently Mainoo, and the new coach is a fan of the beautiful game and loves youngsters too. I just need to work really hard and grab my chance when it comes.”
