Kanoute Plans To Convince Traore Choose Mali Over Spain
Former Sevilla and Tottenham Hotspurs striker Freddie Kanoute says he is hoping to convince Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Adama Traore to play international football for Mali rather than Spain.
Traore was born in Spain to Malian parents and came through Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy.
He has represented Spain at youth level but can still play for Mali as he is yet to be capped at senior level for La Roja.
The 24-year-old earned his first call-up to the Spain national team back in November for the dead rubber EURO 2020 qualifiers against Malta and Romania, just a few days after he reportedly committed his international allegiance to Mali, but he was unable to join up with the squad because of injury.
Kanoute was born in France and played for the French youth sides but decided to play senior international football for Mali, where his father hailed from.
The 42-year-old, who won the 2007 Africa Footballer of the Year, represented Mali 39 times, scoring 23 goals and he has outlined plans to convince Traore choose The Eagles over Les Bleus.
"The Mali FA has called me to say 'please, please go and see him because you speak perfect Spanish so you can convince him' and so on," Kanoute told BBC Sport.
"If he is listening to me right now - I am heading your way Adama.
"Honestly, I would like him to [play for Mali] but I will tell him the truth that it is obviously going to be a struggle and that it is not going to be so comfortable to play for an African national team.
"But the people give you back so much and he has the opportunity to make something big with a very, very talented generation that we have in Mali so I will try to convince him."
