"In reality, he was a number 10 with above-average technical ability, coupled with an uncommon vision of the game", are the words of his former president of Esperance Paris 19 and close friend of the player's family, Morad Djeddi. It's a phrase that resonates strongly, as Youssouf Fofana is now a midfielder who plays lower down the pitch. His rise since his debut in the Ile-de-France proves that he is a player who has caught the eye of observers.
A precocious talent who came through the Ile-de-France
"He was a very gifted kid. He was one of the best players in Ile-de-France. When he was a youngster, then a junior, he was one of the best, with Moussa Diaby in his team. I remember taking him to several detections and he had nothing to envy the others. He then returned to Clairefontaine. That's saying something," Morad Djeddi recalls for Flashscore News. Trained at Esperance from the age of six, in the north-east of Paris, Fofana then moved to INF Clairefontaine, at the end of the 2012-2013 season. At the same time, he spent a season at Red Star, then left for JA Drancy.
On his way to Qatar, Fofana makes him understandably happy: "It's a source of pride and a great showcase. I brought him to football because he was my neighbour. So it's a great achievement. It's a great pleasure for the club, for him and especially for his parents.
Djeddi is not surprised by his inclusion in the 26-man squad: "I'm not surprised by the situation. Before his first selection, I said that Deschamps should take him on. Fofana has been a unanimous favourite since his youth and there is no doubt that he is capable of putting everyone in agreement as early as the group matches, alongside Aurelien Tchouameni?
A partnership with Tchouameni?
The following midfielders have been called up by Didier Deschamps for this World Cup: Eduardo Camavinga, Matteo Guendouzi, Jordan Veretout, Adrien Rabiot, Aurelien Tchouameni and Youssouf Fofana. The AS Monaco player is not sure to start in the first match against Australia, but he has a chance to be part of the midfield. If Tchouameni seems to have already won his place, it is not the case for those who will accompany him.
At the moment, Didier Deschamps' system is not yet certain, but there is a chance that Les Bleus will play in a 4-2-3-1. In this case, a double pivot is needed to ensure a good balance on the pitch, as the attacking players will need the ball.
A key position for any team, it will be important to find stability in the French midfield given the absences of Pogba and Kante. Having already played with him at Monaco, Fofana looks on paper to be the perfect pairing for Tchouameni. "In terms of French midfielders, he is currently in the top five," Morad Djeddi told Flashscore News.
The former Esperance player is without doubt the key player in Philippe Clement's squad. He is one of Monaco's only positives in recent months, managing to shine in an uninspired team. And given the players selected in his position, the Frenchman is certainly part of this list of players potentially eligible for the starting line-up, such as Adrien Rabiot.
Like N'Golo Kante, who had only played four games for France before Euro 2016, Fofana has only two caps to his name, and could well follow in his footsteps in Qatar.
