Kylian Mbappe admits he encouraged N’Golo Kante to join PSG during the World Cup tournament.
The youngster further revealed that he further recommended the EPL winning midfielder to Nasser Al-Khelaifi. The duo helped France win the second World Cup title in Russia. It is now widely believed that PSG will attempt to reunite them in Ligue 1.
“It’s true that [Al-Khelaifi] has consulted me. And I told him again that Kante would be good for our team. I spoke to N’Golo during the World Cup, but not extensively because I know what it is when you bombard your brain with transfer stuff… In the end, I left notes in his pockets that he would have discovered once he returned home, to get the message across.” Mbappe told France Football.
Born to Malian parents, Kanté was approached by Mali ahead of the 2015 African Cup of Nations having not played for France in any of their age group teams. Kanté declined on the basis that he was still trying to establish himself in Ligue 1. Mali issued a further invitation to Kanté in January 2016, although he stated that he was still undecided about which national team to represent should he get an invite from France.
On 17 March 2016, Kanté was selected for the France senior squad for the first time to face the Netherlands and Russia in friendlies. He made his debut against the former eight days later, replacing Lassana Diarra at half time in a 3–2 win at the Amsterdam Arena. On his 25th birthday, 29 March, he made his first start and scored to open a 4–2 win over Russia at the Stade de France; fellow birthday celebrant Dimitri Payet also scored.
On 10 June 2016, Kanté appeared in his first competitive match for France by starting the opening match of Euro 2016 against Romania; he played the entire match, made the most passes, the most tackles, the most interceptions, covered the most distance on the pitch and assisted Dimitri Payet’s winning goal in a 2–1 victory.
In the round of 16 match against the Republic of Ireland at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais, Kanté picked up a yellow card in the 27th minute (his second of Euro 2016 which would cause him to be suspended from the quarter-final) and was replaced with Kingsley Coman in the 46th minute with the French trailing 0–1 at half time. Kanté was unused in the final, which France lost 1–0 to Portugal after extra time.
On 17 May 2018, he was called up to the 23-man French squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. On 15 July, Kanté started in France’s 4–2 win over Croatia in the final of the tournament.
On 16 July 2016, Kanté signed for Chelsea for a reported fee of £32 million. After signing a five-year contract with the club, Kanté said: “I am so happy to have signed for one of the biggest clubs in Europe. It’s a dream come true for me.” Kanté was given the number 7 shirt, left vacant since the exit of Ramires in January.
On 15 August 2016, Kanté made his competitive debut in their season opener against West Ham United. Although he picked up a yellow in the first three minutes of the game, he shone as the game went on, to help Chelsea to a 2–1 victory. Three months after his move to London, he faced his former side, Leicester City for the first time, and was Man of the Match in a 3–0 victory. On 23 October, he scored his first goal for Chelsea in a 4–0 home win against Manchester United.
On 26 December 2016, Kanté was named by L’Équipe as the world’s sixth best footballer of 2016.
On 13 March 2017, Kanté was named man of the match and scored the only goal in the 51st minute, in an FA Cup quarter-final win over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.
On 20 April, Kanté was named in the PFA Team of the Year for the second consecutive season. He was also later named the PFA Players’ Player of the Year, the FWA Footballer of the Year,[34] and the Premier League Player of the Season. Kanté become the first player since Eric Cantona in 1993 to win back‑to-back top-flight titles in England with two different clubs. In October 2017, Kanté was nominated for the Ballon d’Or, which is awarded to the best player in world football