#12 Franck Kessie
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Franck Kessie has recently come into the limelight after being linked with the heavy spenders of the English football after his impressive performances for Atalanta in Seria A. Born in Ouragahio, the Ivory Coast midfielder moved from Stella club in his home nation to Atalanta’s U-19 squad in 2014 on loan. The move was made permanent a year later and he has since established himself as one of the finest youngsters in the Seria A.
There comes a time in a player’s life that can define his future or his overall career. For Kessie, that was the year he spent in Cesena on loan in Seria B under the tutelage of Massimo Drago, a well-known manager reputed for promoting and developing youth in his teams.
Drago transformed Kessie from a ball playing defender to a box to box midfielder. He realised that Kessie possesses the features of a midfield destroyer who could carry the ball over the length of the pitch and even have an eye for goal.
Since the transformation, Kessie has become a reliable box to box midfielder, popping up in front of goals regularly. In 17 games this season, Kessie has 7 goals to his name already. The comparisons between Kessie and Yaya Toure are inevitable now. And he very well could be on his way to reaching the Manchester City player’s level and has garnered interest from Chelsea, Juventus, and Tottenham.
He has admitted his desire to play for Manchester United one day, but considering his current role in Atalanta, he would also fit in seamlessly in Chelsea due to their similar 3-4-3 formation. The second half of the current campaign will complete his first full season in Serie A, and this could be the breakthrough he would need to reach the upper echelons of the footballing world.
