World news – Wesley Fofana on his inspiration for Leicester’s pursuit in the Champions League

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French defender on his journey from a challenging childhood to training by his hero Kolo Toure

It was just a few minutes after Wesley Fofana’s first training session last October that it became clear that Leicester had signed a future star.

His new teammates were overwhelmed by the demeanor and maturity of this little-known Teenagers who has since emerged as one of the season’s newcomers and yet another Leicester recruiting triumph.

Fofana is an amazing young talent who works together like a Rolls-Royce, Ferrari and Lamborghini. He faces Manchester United on Sunday with an FA Cup semi-final.

It’s been an unconventional path to the Premier League, from a difficult upbringing in the south of France to entering the Saint-Étienne Academy at the age of 14 . Six years later, the £ 30million defender seems to have the world at his feet.

« Maybe my career started a little later than expected or planned, but that never worried me, » says Fofana.

“I am someone who has always worked hard. Maybe that means I worked a bit in the shade. I was never the best of my generation, never the one to stand out, but I was always focused on my goal and I think that is showing today. « 

Fofana has made it easy since his transition to English football and has established himself at the center of Leicester’s defense with a number of outstanding performances.

Known as » Little Wes « due to the presence of club captain Wes Morgan , he is powerful in the air, aggressive and fast, with a wide range of passes.

As a always up front defender, he has also demonstrated an infallible ability to spot threats before they occur.

Fofana points to Kolo Toure, former Arsenal and Manchester City defender who now works as one of Brendan Rodgers’ coaches, and Jonny Evans as key to his success so far.

« When I was little, Kolo was a hero to me as he was a great center-back and also from Ivory Coast, « he says. » It was an absolute dream to work with him and I’m extremely lucky to be able to.

« I hear everything he says. It works not only about what’s on the field, he advises me on what to do with nutrition, hydration and everything that comes off the field.

« He helped me a lot tactically and also in communication , although I speak in a language that I’m not used to at the moment.

« Jonny is also someone who helps me a lot on the pitch and speaks to me all the time. They really got me started here. « 

Fofana’s family is never far from his thoughts either. He grew up in Vitrolles, a small village 15 miles north of Marseille, and lived with his mother and grandmother raised him the fourth of six children.

Money was tight, his father was absent, but football was always the driving force. His passion for the game at a young age was unwavering and he was once for a week from the School suspended after he broke a window with a misplaced shot.

« I had a really happy childhood, » he says. « I started playing soccer at a young age which meant certain people were in my life came that really helped me on this journey.

« When you start there are many temptations that can lead you astray, and it was thanks to these people that I was on the right W eg war.

“My family is very important to me. They went out of their way to help me without putting a lot of pressure. I was really determined to achieve this for myself and for her. « 

Fofana played for the local junior team SC Air Bel and in 2015 received the life-changing move to Saint-Étienne, three hours on the A47 motorway.

 » They came to see me play, came up to me and met my family. We decided it was the right thing, ”he says. « Of course it was difficult to leave the house, but I always had confidence in myself that I could do it.

 » I lived in the training center in a shared apartment with all the other young players who came from all over the place, to play for the club.

« When I signed my first professional contract [in May 2018] I brought my family with me – they loved it and they are still here. »

Under Claude Puel, a former Leicester executive, Fofana’s star was really starting to rise. He made only 13 Ligue 1 starts for Saint-Étienne last season, but had been spotted long before by Leicester playing with the club’s second team.

“When Leicester stood up for me, they put in her project and I was 100 percent sure that I wanted to go there, « he says.

 » Saint-Étienne did not agree with me. I wanted to go, they said no. The coach didn’t want me to go either. Some of the supporters were dissatisfied with me. It was really difficult for my family [his mother and sister were abused by some followers].

« Things have been said but I haven’t been influenced by them. I built a wall around myself and knew I was making the right decision. They wanted the best for their team, I can understand. At the moment everything worked out fine. “

Fofana plays United this weekend. Paul Scholes and Owen Hargreaves, both former Old Trafford players, recently insisted the Frenchman would change Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad.

Still, he’s entirely Leicester based and members of his family are expected to join him soon bump. Leicester also has no plans to make money and recognizes Fofana as a key player in her future after signing a five-year deal.

He conducted this interview through a translator but regularly takes English lessons while he’s around lives off Leicester’s new £ 100m training ground.

With Leicester looking for a place in the final four of the FA Cup, the club is also on track to play in next season’s Champions League.

« I always remember Didier Drogba winning the Champions League with Chelsea. It’s incredible to believe that I could have the opportunity to play in this tournament, » says Fofana.

« We are already in the places and will see if we can get it. I just hope everything goes on and I will go out of my way to make sure things keep getting better for me. « 

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Ref: https://www.telegraph.co.uk

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