David Beckham hails Chelsea midfielder N’golo Kante as a “special talent.”
The midfielder has ran Antonio Conte’s well oiled machine to a perfection since arriving from Leicester last summer.
After a magical campaign, Kante secured the PFA on Sunday, beating the likes of Eden Hazard, Harry Kane and Alexis Sanchez to the award. Hazard had said if given the award, he’d share it with Kante, but it was the France international who flourished.
The 26-year-old, who shies away from the limelight, has drawn praises from all season most notably former Blues star Frank Lampard and now ex-Manchester United legend, David Beckham. The free-kick maestro believes Kante is the perfect man to have in the engine room.
"“He’s a special talent,” said Beckham, who also received the PFA’s merit award for his achievements for club and country.“What I love about him, he plays the game in such a humble way.“I noticed it, I was at Stamford Bridge a couple of weeks back when [Manchester] United played Chelsea, he just plays the game so humble.“He works hard, he can pass the ball, he can tackle, he can score goals like he did that night.“But when he was running into players, whether it be an accident or not, he reacts in the right way and that says a lot about him as a personality.“To have won the Premiership the way he did last season with Leicester was special, and obviously the position Chelsea are in at the moment, if they go on to win the Premiership, it’ll be a special couple of years for him.“We’ll see what happens towards the end of the season but [he’s a] special talent.“And to be the kind of man mountain that he is – and the size he is – says a lot about him.”"
Tottenham starlet, Dele Alli, earned the PFA Young Player of the Year, which was no surprise. The youngster had the award bagged since the beginning of the season.
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This award has been long overdue, Kante should have been awarded the PFA Player of the Year last campaign when he led the Foxes to the Premier League title. According to Squawka, Kante has won more tackles in the opposition’s half (22) than any other Premier League player, while his partner Nemanja Matic is quietly having an unbelievable year.
Although the Blues thieved Kante for a reported fee of £32 million from Leicester, he has already outplayed his contract, while outclassing his compatriot and football’s most expensive player in Paul Pogba.
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With 4-2 win against Southampton on Tuesday, Chelsea are seven clear atop Premier League table.