Will the ’23-’24 season be the season of former FC Barcelona talent and PSV ‘basic player’ Fodé Fofana?

The 2022-2023 season was Xavi Simons’ breakthrough season, but Johan Bakayoko also knocked hard on the door. The Belgian attacker makes big steps forward every week and is in the interest of other clubs.

Bakayoko also stands the interest of domestic and foreign media. For example, the Belgian speaks with football magazine ELF about his development and his goals. The young winger also has high expectations of some of his PSV teammates. Bakayoko expects Ismael Saibari and Fodé Fofana to soon be basic players in Ruud van Nistelrooij’s team.

Saibari started very strong and was a basic player for a while, but then it stalled somewhat. The attacking midfielder played twelve Eredivisie matches, five of which as a basic player. He provided two assists in it. “Ismael can also become one of the best players in the Eredivisie. He really is a special player,” the Belgian told ELF Voetbal. “I call him Maradona. He can dribble well and is physically very strong.”

“Only his finishing needs to be better. He knows that too. I sometimes give him tips, but sometimes he gets lost. It will be fine, with time. I expect Ismael to be able to make great strides when he actually scores”, continues Bakayoko, who expects even more from the young top striker Fodé Fofana. Bakayoko thinks that Fofana will quickly become a basic player under Ruud van Nistelrooij.

“It may sound a bit crazy. But our friend Fodé, in his way of finishing and dribbling, actually resembles the trainer as a player. Fodé can also finish very cleanly. I was still a bit young to see our coach on TV as a player for Manchester United and Real Madrid, among others, but we’ve seen footage of him on YouTube. Very impressive,” says Bakayoko about teammate Fofana, who has a special history at FC Barcelona.

In the video below, the young striker explains a lot when he accidentally went to Lyon.