The French midfielder, who delivered a top-tier performance at San Siro yesterday, took on the role of halfback, a position previously held by Kanté almost ten years ago, a central figure of the legendary English champion team Leicester under Ranieri.

“Kone a Thunderbolt.” Perhaps a somewhat overused phrase, but certainly after his… In his first match as a starter against Genoa, he demonstrated why De Rossi was so insistent on requesting him. But this applies perfectly to the monstrous match played yesterday by the midfielder of Roma at San Siro, the total dominator of the match won by his France against Italy. A 3-1 that cost Italy the first place of the Nations League group. The thunderous Kone descended upon Spalletti, plowing across the field back and forth, dominating in every area of his expertise, and seizing all loose balls, uncertain touches, and second balls. He wiped clean all the possessions to begin building again. In essence, he wiped out Italy’s midfield. Ranieri watches and smiles, just like all Roma fans who know they have a potential top player in the squad, secured for less than 20 million. But he certainly needs to be used in the right way. Last night, Kone ranked second in pass precision, boasting an impressive 94%, falling behind only Nkunku. He was third in total touches (72), and had the second overall rating (7.07), trailing behind Rabiot and Digne, who enjoyed assists and goals. He indeed had precise tasks, but with the liberty to run and steal balls, positioning himself where he was most needed. He also showed that he knows how to handle and manage the ball, in addition to demonstrating tactical intelligence and acumen. At Roma, this kind of performance has yet to be seen. In the yellow-red jersey, he has not had a specific portion of the pitch to dedicate himself to; he has always wandered too much aimlessly across the field, often encroaching into the penalty box. At times, he even seemed selfish, too attached to the ball, whereas in the national team he plays much more as a team player, without the need to overexert himself. He can play box-to-box, but in the three-man midfield set by Deschamps, he shone the most as a central midfielder, without having to drop back too much. Something he accomplished alongside Guendouzi, taking turns, while Rabiot had more license to propel forward, also taking advantage of the attacking wingers. A solution from which Ranieri can draw inspiration in order to fully harness the potential of a young player who has secured his spot in a team as illustrious as France.

The three-man midfield is already inherent in the 3-5-2 structure, with Cristante and Pellegrini on his flanks, alternating incursions, somewhat akin to what Guendouzi and Rabiot do. With different characteristics, of course. A strong midfield role that both individuals have already performed with excellent results (the first at Atalanta). And even with the entrance of Pisilli into the field, the sense would not change. In the same way, it is Kone who could occupy that role as an insider, with Cristante or Paredes masterminding the game. Nevertheless, with a lower and more solid defensive block, the team would be better shielded and Kone would have more freedom, or conversely, he would be more disciplined. Yesterday, the former Gladbach 2000 player took the place of Kanté, precisely the player who shone (in a 4-4-2 formation alongside Drinkwater) in the year of Leicester’s legendary championship under the guidance of Ranieri in 2015/16. And then, he embarked on the career everyone knows about. An ideal ‘changing of the guard’ occurred yesterday at the national level, a shift that can potentially materialize from Leicester to the capital, nearly a decade later. The Roma coach can build the midfield around the former Gladbach player, in either a 3-5-2 or a 4-3-3 formation, allowing for the inclusion of Soulé on the right wing, especially when Dybala needs to rest. And it will happen. Notably, the former Frosinone player, in a five-man midfield or even with a 4-4-2 formation (a setup in which Kone could play, but hasn’t brought out his best yet), might risk being heavily penalized. Meanwhile, the yellow-and-red fans have been thrilled by the total dominance exhibited by Kone yesterday, who at this point is the only true guarantee and hope for a revival. It’s now up to Ranieri to make it tangible, revitalizing what is currently a moribund Roma in football terms.