Highly-rated Manchester United young star Sekou Kone is in line to be handed his first call-up to the Mali senior national team.
Mali head coach Tom Saintfiet has confirmed that the United midfielder and Barcelona starlet Ibrahim Diarra will soon join the team.
Kone should have been handed his first senior call-up for the Eagles’ 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers against DR Congo but it was decided that he should join the U20s for the Maurice Revello Tournament.
He came off the bench as Mali lost 2-1 to Panama in their first match on Tuesday afternoon.
The United young star had an impact on the game. He got Jose Alfredo Marengo Armuelles sent off and set up Mali’s only goal.
Kone hopes to emulate forward Alejandro Garnacho, who starred in the tournament for Argentina in 2022, and new signing Matheus Cunha, named the Player of the Tournament in the 2019 edition.
The 19-year-old caught the attention of the Red Devils after helping Mali finish third in the 2023 Fifa U17 World Cup.
Man United secured his services last summer and was a regular for the U21s last term.
He scored once in nine games during the Premier League 2 regular season. He made three appearances in the play-offs and registered two goal contributions.
The Mali youth international was in the matchday squad for three Premier League games but did not make his first team debut.
However, he played during the post-season tour to Malaysia and Hong Kong, where he featured as a substitute against the ASEAN All-Stars and Hong Kong national team.
Kone is expected to leave United on loan this summer. INEOS-owned Swiss outfit Lausanne, along with several clubs in Belgium and France, have shown strong interest in signing him.
Stats from transfermarkt.com
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