France Finds Its Next Lassana Diarra in Roma’s Manu Koné, world Cup Spot Beckons
PARIS – Manu Koné, the AS Roma midfielder, is rapidly establishing himself as a key figure in the French national team, drawing comparisons to the dynamic Lassana Diarra and surging ahead in the competition for a starting role at the upcoming World Cup. Koné’s strong performances in recent matches against Ukraine and Iceland in September have solidified his position, impressing both fans and national team observers.
Having initially joined the Équipe Tricolore following standout performances at the Olympic Games, Koné has quickly become a regular alongside Aurélien Tchouaméni in midfield. His ability to win back possession and distribute the ball effectively has caught the eye of former players and analysts alike.
“He is a player who reminds me of Lassana Diarra,” stated Gaël Clichy,assistant coach to Thierry Henry during the Olympics,on Canal+. “In possession, if we want to get out from behind, he has the quality to make this pivot and find the lag.”
Clichy further elaborated on Koné’s strengths, noting, “He has this ability to project himself and he recovers a lot of balloons.The little progression he must have is to be a little more decisive. We saw that against Iceland, he struck two or three times. But he is an under-coated player in the sense that he is a player who can play everywhere in the midfield. At this level, it’s very strong.”
The 2025-2026 season wiht Roma will be crucial for Koné, as a strong showing could cement his place as a starter for France at the World Cup in the United States. Currently, he appears to have a important advantage over other midfield contenders such as Adrien Rabiot, Khephren Thuram, and Eduardo Camavinga. Koné’s versatility and dynamic play are quickly making him an indispensable asset for Didier Deschamps’ squad, and a potential linchpin of the French midfield for years to come.
