Idrissa Gueye has stated his belief that Iliman Ndiaye could be good enough to lift the Ballon d’Or one day.
Ndiaye has been a revelation since arriving on Merseyside. He’s audaciously skillful, with vision and movement that is a joy to watch.
The 25-year-old’s game has end product, too. He was our top scorer last season, and already leads the way this year.
However, his international teammate Gueye insists he has yet to reach his peak. Indeed, the midfielder believes Ndiaye can emulate George Weah, the only African player to lift the Ballon d’Or.
Gueye said: “I challenge [Ndiaye] every game, every time we play. I’m always speaking to him.
“He’s a good boy, he listens a lot and, yeah, I’m like his… grandbrother. I always knew he would be successful here at Everton and, honestly, I don’t think he’s shown his best yet.
“I train with him every day so I see his quality every day and I can see what he is capable of. He just needs to believe in himself, keep working hard and have high expectations of himself.
“I told him when he first arrived here that he can be the next African Ballon d’Or winner, because he has the quality, he has the technique, he has the skills and everything. He has a combination I’ve never seen before.”
NDIAYE TO BECOME ONE OF WORLD’S BEST?
Ndiaye’s ability slightly went under the radar last season, at least in the wider football community.
However, with highlight reels recently going viral, the rest of the world seems to be waking up to what Evertonians already knew.
Indeed, he’s getting far too much attention for my liking, and will likely attract the attention of the footballing elite.
At just 25-years-old, he’s unlikely to have reached his full potential, but just how good he can become remains to be seen.
And to think, when he arrived from Marseille, we sent Neal Maupay in the opposite direction.