Sekou Kone: Mali boss breaks silence on Manchester United starlet’s chances for national team call-up

Mali’s head coach Tom Saintfiet has broken his silence on Manchester United midfielder Sekou Kone’s chances of a national team call-up.

Manchester United made an exciting addition this summer by signing 18-year-old midfield prospect Sekou Kone from Guidars FC in Mali.

The reported £1 million transfer highlights the type of proactive recruitment United had previously missed out on. For instance, Moisés Caicedo, now with Chelsea for £115 million, was scouted by United years ago while at Independiente del Valle but never acquired.

Kone represents a low-risk, high-reward investment, marking a shift in approach under the INEOS regime at Old Trafford.

Fans have been eager to see the defensive midfielder in action after the teenager had an extended pre-season at Carrington following a disrupted summer.

He made his first appearance of the season last weekend for the Under-21s before appearing in the UEFA Youth League on Wednesday evening.

As he progresses through the ranks at Old Trafford, Kone will thinking about his potential involvement with the Mali national team.

Kone excelled for Mali at the U17s World Cup last year and has made 12 appearances for the country at that age level.

Tom Saintfiet, head coach of the Mali national team, has addressed the young prospect at United and said that he will give him an opportunity at the ‘appropriate time’.

Saintfiet also warned Kone that reaching Old Trafford is not simply good enough for a senior-team call-up and that he must develop certain areas of his game.

“First of all, I would like to point out that Mali has an inexhaustible pool of talent. All generations have quality players, and this bodes well for the future of football in the country,” the coach told Africa Foot.

“As for Sékou Koné, he will first have to complete his training at Manchester United and we will not fail to give him a chance at the appropriate time.

“Playing with Manchester United is not an end in itself, he must progress in certain aspects to be able to have a chance with the first team.”

Kone will be sure to make strides in his development now he is back on the pitch, with potential involvement with the first-team at Old Trafford not too far away.

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