France almost missed out on one of their greatest modern midfield talents. Former Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy revealed N'Golo Kante originally intended to represent Mali instead of Les Bleus.
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Subscribe Sekarang →Speaking on his YouTube podcast "Jamie Vardy's Having A Party", Vardy recalled discussions with Kante during their iconic 2015-16 Premier League title campaign.
According to Vardy, Kante wanted to honor his father by playing for Mali. However, France called him first.
"He originally didn't want to play for France," Vardy said. "He wanted to play for Mali for his dad, but France called him up before Mali. We were in the training ground saying, "What are you thinking? They're going to win things. Go to France.""
Kante joined Leicester from Caen in 2015 after starting his career at US Boulogne. His dominant performances in midfield caught the attention of France manager Didier Deschamps, who handed him his international debut in March 2016.
The decision proved career-defining. Kante went on to earn 69 caps for France, winning the 2018 World Cup alongside two Premier League titles and finishing fifth in the 2021 Ballon d'Or voting.
Despite his massive success, Vardy emphasized that Kante remained remarkably humble throughout his career.
"Honestly, he is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet in your life," Vardy added. "Always has a smile on his face."
Vardy also shared an anecdote about Kante's famous modesty regarding his choice of vehicle.
Based on Vardy's account, Kante drove a modest Mini Cooper while playing for Leicester and kept it even after securing a lucrative transfer to Chelsea.
Teammates urged Kante to upgrade his car to match his rising status in London. Instead, Kante sent the original vehicle to his parents, while Mini presented him with a new model.