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Franck Kessié has joined FC Barcelona from AC Milan, bolstering Xavi’s squad ahead of the new season. Here’s all you need to know about the Ivory Coast international midfielder’s arrival at Camp Nou.
Franck Kessié is a new FC Barcelona player, becoming the first signing for Xavi Hernández’s team ahead of the 2022/23 season. A midfielder by trade and full international with the Ivory Coast, Kessié was a key reason behind AC Milan’s Scudetto-winning campaign last season. During his five years in Milan, he became an all-rounder in midfield, with a physicality that will see him fit in alongside the other technical players in his position at FC Barcelona.
At 25 years of age, he arrives at the Camp Nou able to play in several different positions in Xavi’s scheme. He can play as a defensive midfielder thanks to his physical abilities, while his best position is to accompany another player, perhaps Sergio Busquets, in a double pivot. He can also get forward and join in attacks in the opposition penalty area. In his time in Italy, he achieved important scoring figures, netting 37 goals with AC Milan. He is a complete midfielder who can contribute in both areas and who will be able to adapt to the style of the Azulgrana as soon as the 2022/23 LaLiga Santander season starts.
His idol played for Barça
His idol is the only other player from the Ivory Coast who has worn the FC Barcelona jersey to date, Yaya Touré. Kessié becomes the second player from his country to play at the Camp Nou after his hero. He even played with Touré in the Ivory Coast national team, for whom he has already made 58 appearances, in which he has scored six goals.
He has played at the Olympic Games
Kessié already knows several of his new teammates at FC Barcelona because he played against some of them at the Tokyo Olympic Games last summer. Kessié was part of the Ivorian team that lost to the Spain of Pedri, Eric García and Óscar Mingueza in the quarter-finals of the Olympic tournament.
His favourite number and a gesture of respect
His AC Milan number of 79 has a curious story behind it. He wanted to wear the No.19, because it is that of his birthday, December 19th. But, then Leonardo Bonucci arrived at AC Milan and the midfielder gave the number to the Italian centre-back as a sign of respect. Then, to choose a new number, Kessié chose the one that most resembled 19 and picked 79, the number he has worn on his shirt until this past season in the Italian league.
Following the footsteps of his neighbour Aurier
With a population of less than 40,000 inhabitants, the small town where Kessié was born can now boast of having seen two of its players play in LaLiga Santander. The town of Ouragahio is also the birthplace of Serge Aurier, who played for Villarreal CF last season. These two neighbours have now both made it to Spain’s top division.
From Rossoneri to Azulgrana
Including Kessié, there are now 19 players who have worn the jersey of both AC Milan and FC Barcelona. Ronaldo Nazário, Christophe Dugarry, Winston Bogarde, Rivaldo, Michael Reiziger, Patrick Kluivert, Pepe Reina, Coco, Ronaldinho, Edgar Davids, Demetrio Albertini, Maxi López, Mark van Bommel, Gianluca Zambrotta, Bojan Krkic, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Gerard Deulofeu and Kevin Prince Boateng all did so before him.
