Second recruit of the summer at AS Monaco, the Ghanaian international central defender, who arrived in the Principality on Tuesday from Southampton, has several particularities. Here are a few things you need to know about him.
He is the second major reinforcement for the Rock club, after the arrival in July of Philipp Köhn. Center back renowned in the Premier League, Mohammed Salisu indeed signed up this Tuesday with AS Monaco until June 2028. So before being able to attend his debut in the red and white jersey, here is what it takes you know about the 24-year-old Ghana international. Portrait. 🖼
🇬🇭🤝🇲🇨#WelcomeMohammed pic.twitter.com/Qv9QQmUPtz
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) August 1, 2023
Second Ghanaian player at AS Monaco 🇬🇭
One thing is certain, the 24-year-old left-hander will not be the first representative of the Black Stars to defend the colors of the Principality club. Before him, Alex Nyarko, the former defensive midfielder on loan from Everton in 2001-2002, had already set foot on the pitch at Stade Louis-II. Since then, Eric Ayiah, the striker trained at the Academy, has only played with the pros in a friendly match, it was in February 2022 against the Brentford reserve.
He is formidable in duels 💪
A defender with an imposing physique, Mohammed is very efficient in the aerial field, whether defensively or offensively. According to stats compiled by @datascout_, he plays on average over 90 minutes more than 7 defensive duels per game, including 5 in the air. “Excellent tackler and also good at reading the game”, as confirmed by ChatGPT, the Ghanaian thus intercepts nearly 9 balls per game. Solid !
With Southampton being the weakest side in PL, Salisu were in high demand.
It helps to make stats, as evidenced by comparisons with teammates Bella-Kotchap and Bednarek
It is however honorable to have this high % of duels won on a large volume 👌 pic.twitter.com/IQWvCzUe9B
— Data’Scout (@datascout_) July 31, 2023
He faced Lionel Messi… and CR7! ⚔
Trained in Valladolid in Spain, after having made his debut at the African Talent Academy in Ghana, the athletic defender has already taken on the best during his three-year spell in La Liga. He thus crossed paths with Lionel Messi against Barça in October 2019. Came into play during the match when his team was down 4-1, unfortunately he could not prevent the Pulga from scoring a new goal at the end of the game. match. Neither Cristiano Ronaldo to guide Portugal to success against Ghana (3-2).
Playing my first match with the team against Brazil was really difficult. But I was really happy to make my debut.
Mohammed SalisuAbout his first selection
He played (and scored at) the 2022 World Cup 🏆
Called up for the first time with the Black Stars last September, Mohammed is playing his first match with Ghana in a friendly… against Brazil! A preparation meeting for the World Cup for which he will be called by coach Otto Ado. Despite a success against South Korea, thanks in particular to a goal signed by number 4, the “Brazilians of Africa” stop in the group stage, ending in last place in Group H. With in passing a defeat against the Seleçao of CR7 therefore.
He played (a few games) with Taki’ 🤝
They only crossed paths for six months, but Mohammed Salisu and Takumi Minamino still played together at Southampton. Loaned by Liverpool in January 2021, the Japanese attacking midfielder has thus accumulated 10 appearances with the Saints, for two goals scored. The two players will therefore find themselves in another red and white jersey from now on.
And with a young talent trained at the Academy… 🇲🇨
On the other hand, the Ghanaian rock rubbed shoulders with a midfielder from La Diagonale for much longer. This is Ibrahima Diallo, Abdou’s younger brother. Both joined the club from the south of England at the same time, in the summer of 2020, before leaving there too together, three years later. Three years during which they will have occupied the defensive sector of the SFC.
One year a Saint 😇#OnThisDay in 2020, Ibrahima Diallo arrived at St Mary’s ✍️ pic.twitter.com/373WWO1KSX
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) October 4, 2021
He also has a little brother… who plays the same position 👥
“My little brother is currently in Ghana in the same academy where I was trained. He is also left-handed and plays in the same position as me in central defense, ”said Mohammed last year in a video interview with the Saints media club. A “brother story” which inevitably brings to mind his selection partner, Iñaki Williams, who had recently chosen to defend Ghana, while his little brother Nico, a winger like him, is a Spanish international!
He met his childhood idol 🇧🇷
Having the chance to cross paths with your childhood idol one day is not given to everyone. Well the Kumasi native defender had that opportunity. He was indeed able to exchange with Ronaldo Il Fenomeno. A meeting he still remembers, as he had confided recently. “I loved the Brazilian Ronaldo! I watched a lot of videos of him when I was younger. He was a fantastic player who carried his team all the time,” he recalls.
…And he has a talent for dancing 🕺
In a lighter way, Mohammed Salisu is visibly very comfortable in terms of body language. This is in any case what he showed his new teammates in the selection, during his hazing with Ghana, on the eve of facing Brazil. Note the precision of the swaying.
2023-08-02 16:00:41
#Global #idol #Mohammed #Salisu
