Wesley Fofana is a centre-back who is now worth £75m. He is discussing with Sky Sports the early days of his career when he was struggling. At the age of 14, Fofana left his family home in Marseille to attend the academy in Saint-Étienne. Though he was a talented and tenacious defender, he was also brutal and unprepared.
Fofana tells Sky Sports that it was difficult for him to adjust to life in an academy environment. This resulted in his being fired by Saint-Étienne. Rather than let this defeat him, Fofana persevered. Saint-Étienne gave him a second chance, which he seized and eventually worked his way onto the top team. This, in turn, set the stage for his success at both Leicester and Chelsea.
Though he admits that it was a difficult time, Fofana says that it transformed his life and football career. He is determined and driven, and nobody “gave it to him” – he has worked hard for his success. Today, he is able to look back on that time with a smile, grateful for the lessons he learned.
Fofana acknowledges that Chelsea has had a difficult season. Though it is a big club, Chelsea is currently in 11th place, with Man City and Arsenal leading the way. Fofana believes that, at least in part, this is due to the number of new players and coaches that have come to the team in recent months.
Fofana’s last season at Leicester was ruined by a broken leg from a pre-season injury, and injuries have also plagued him at Chelsea this season. Nevertheless, he is resolute in his determination to win everything for Chelsea. Fofana believes that he will be with Chelsea for a long time and is focused on winning titles and trophies.