Antonio Conte's Remarks on N'Golo Kante's Past

Italian manager Antonio Conte evaluated N'Golo Kante's transfer process and his first impressions of the player in an interview with The Athletic.

Transfer Window and Kante's Arrival

Italian manager Antonio Conte touched upon past transfer policies in his statements to The Athletic platform.

Conte stated that they did not make big transfers at the time, noting that they added David Luiz, Marcos Alonso, and N'Golo Kante to the squad.

Club's Doubts About Kante

The Italian coach mentioned the process, stating that club officials approached the transfer of N'Golo Kante with hesitation.

Conte stated that the management asked him ten times if he was sure about Kante, noting that the player did not fit the typical club profile.

Physical Characteristics and First Impressions

The experienced manager shared details, stating that the player's physical build was not up to the standards the club was accustomed to at the time.

Stating that Kante was neither tall nor handsome, Conte laughed as he mentioned having some doubts about his physical attributes when he first saw him.

Emphasis on Being a Top-Level Player

Despite all the physical question marks, he clearly stated that he never doubted N'Golo Kante's quality for a single moment.

Conte added that despite his initial doubts, he was extremely confident that Kante was a top-level footballer.