Senegal are blessed with plenty of talent including a number of established Premier League stars ahead of their World Cup last-16 showdown with England.
One of those players that may slip underneath the radar is defensive midfielder Nampalys Mendy. A former club-record signing for Leicester City, supporters would be forgiven for forgetting that he was still at the King Power Stadium.
The France-born midfielder initially arrived in the Midlands in the summer of 2016 as the Foxes attempted to bolster their squad in the aftermath of their title win. Claudio Ranieri was also attempting to compensate for the loss of N’Golo Kante - the Frenchman who completed a big-money move to Chelsea.
Leicester elected to spend a then club-record £13m to bring Mendy in from Nice and he penned a four-year deal in the process. He was tipped to fill the Kante role - but it has gone disastrously since then. The 30-year-old has been limited to just 66 starts in all competitions in the six-and-a-half years with the club; with injury and a loan spell back with his former club hugely disrupting his stay.
There has been an impressive renaissance since though. Amid Wilfred Ndidi’s battles with injury, Mendy was handed an opportunity by Brendan Rodgers as Leicester battled for the Champions League places - the Northern Irishman being left hugely impressed by the diminutive midfielder’s performances.
Speaking at the time, he said: “I think because of Wilf’s form, certainly since I’ve been here, he’s been so consistent, Wilf, and it's been difficult for Papy to play but it really shows you the mark of the guy – how well he has trained, how concentrated he has been. He never lost his focus and was always there if an opportunity came to give his very best.
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“Now, what you’re seeing is a player that is getting a consistent run of games, and he’s really showing the quality player he is. I have been delighted with Papy.
“He gives the team stability with his experience and understanding of football and how we work. He has been crucial to how we play.”
His impressive turnaround with Leicester was certainly noted on the international front. Having been born in France and represented Les Bleus from U18 to the U21 age group, Mendy originally declared for his home country.
Speaking to Canal+, he said: “I was born in France, I have always lived in France, my friends are in France, my family is almost all in France, so it is difficult for me to think of Senegal. The France team is my dream.”
However, opportunities with the 2018 world champions were not forthcoming with Didier Deschamps blessed with plenty of options in the centre of the park. That led to Mendy turning his back on the Europeans and deciding to represent his parent’s home country Senegal.
Speaking to GOAL about the decision to represent the African nation, he said: “The problem wasn’t whether I chose Senegal or not. it was that I hadn’t been called up, but today I’m very proud of being in this group, we’re giving a good face of our team, a strong spirit, and I hope it’s going to continue.”
Finally handed his international debut in March 2021 by Aliou Cisse, Mendy has now gone on to make 22 appearances for the Lions of Teranga and played a key role in the country winning their first Africa Cup of Nations title against Egypt. The Leicester man was named in the team of the tournament in Cameroon and has continued his impressive displays as Senegal booked their place at only their third-ever World Cup.
He will hope to be a part of the Senegal side to reach the quarter-finals for only the second time and looks an excellent bet to start against England. Everton midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye is suspended, whilst Cheikou Kouyate missed training so is likely to be restricted to the sidelines.
While Senegal head into their clash with the Three Lions blessed with plenty of Premier League talent, Mendy could well be the unsung star for his adoptive country as they attempt to plot England’s downfall.
