Jamie Vardy reveals N’Golo Kanté wanted to play for Mali

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By: Manu Tournoux

French team: Didier Deschamps warns the whole world about N'Golo Kanté!

A member of the French team for almost a decade, N’Golo Kanté was a finalist at Euro 2016, 2018 World Champion and was even called up for the 2026 World Cup. The 35-year-old midfielder left his mark on the Blues with 69 caps, 2 goals and 2 titles with the 2018 World Cup and the 2021 Nations League. Fenerbahçe could, however, have played with another nation, Mali.

His former teammate at Leicester with whom he won the 2016 Premier League, Jamie Vardy, confided in a podcast: “N’Golo Kanté wanted to represent Mali, not France, to honor his father’s roots. We convinced him that he would win the World Cup with France. At Chelsea, he even gave his Mini Cooper to his parents in the village and bought another one when his teammates made fun of him.

Manu Tournoux

Written by:

Manu Tournoux

Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team. As an author for the website, his expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers. When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans.