Manchester United star Sekou Kone has revealed his dream to follow in Cristiano Ronaldo's footsteps after becoming the latest young talent at Old Trafford.
Kone joined from Malian side Guidars FC in the summer for around £1 million and has since played for the club's youth teams, although he is still waiting to make his full first-team debut. The 18-year-old plays mainly as a defensive midfielder and was headhunted by United scouts who saw him star for Mali at the Under-17 World Cup.
He has now spoken about how his move came to light and admitted he was surprised when the Red Devils came calling after his humble beginnings as a player in Mali.
“At first I didn't expect to sign for Manchester United,” Kone told Africa Foot. “When I got the offer, I was over the moon. Manchester United is a great club in world football and I can only be happy with this choice, which will allow me to move up the ranks.
“It is a demanding club that has already won the title twenty times. It is also a club that knows how to spot good opportunities. They made a big offer for a boy from Mali, even though I had everything to prove.”
“Honestly, you can't turn down Manchester United. I always told myself it was a choice of the heart because I loved Manchester United since I was a child.”
Kone was also asked about the immense pressure to succeed at Old Trafford, given the pressure on the club to win games and trophies – a standard they have struggled to meet since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013. But the youngster pointed to the likes of Ronaldo, Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo as youngsters who broke into the first team after starting out as youngsters and is optimistic he can follow up on their success.
“I understand the concerns about my short-term future, but I'm not worried at all,” he added. “A lot of young players have been launched, such as CR7, Rashford and recently Mainoo, and the new coach is a fan of the beautiful game and also loves young players. I just have to work really hard and grab my opportunity when it comes.”
Ronaldo is not a bad target to aim for after scoring 145 goals in two spells at United and becoming one of the greatest players in world football.
Kone may have to wait a while before he makes it into the United squad after initial reports claimed the club would give him time to settle in Manchester and the academy first. He has been compared to Yaya Touré for his powerful performances in midfield.