Former Arsenal and Genoa coach Patrick Vieira has declared AS Roma’s Manu Koné to be “for me today the best midfielder in France.”
Vieira, speaking in his role as a World Cup pundit, lauded Koné’s performances, stating, “He had a really good season in Serie A with Roma. He came to the World Cup after a couple of injuries.”
The legendary midfielder elaborated on his high praise: “He is for me today the best midfielder in France. I’d put him ahead of Tchaouameni and Rabiot, because he has this mobility, he is aggressive, he is a ball-winner, and he has the technical ability to be part of the build-up, has the facility with the ball to break lines and move forward.”
Addressing the notion that Koné might be labeled a “water carrier,” Vieira strongly disagreed, emphasizing the midfielder’s offensive capabilities. “I don’t really like that word, water carrier. He will win the ball, but he has something more than the others, as he can play forward. Sometimes Tchouameni can give you a little bit of frustration, too many passes sideways or backwards, but he’s got more passes going forward.”
Koné’s impressive statistics support Vieira’s assessment. This season, he contributed two goals and three assists for Roma in 29 Serie A appearances, aiding their third-place finish. His market value has surged to well over €50 million, a significant increase from the €18 million Roma paid for him in the summer of 2024. This rise in valuation is particularly evident if he continues his strong showings for France on the World Cup stage.
While Inter Milan has previously shown interest, they are now reportedly priced out of a move. Arsenal is considered the leading contender for his signature. Roma may need to sell players to balance their books by June 30, and Koné, given his substantial profit potential, is a likely candidate for transfer.