New Stade Rennais signing, Kamaldeen Sulemana has revealed that his decision to join French Ligue 1 side Stade Rennais was partly influenced by a conversation with former Ghana international Michael Essien.
Essien currently works as an assistant manager for Danish club FC Nordsjalland, the club from which Kamaldeen joined Rennais.
Essien spent his formative years playing in the French top division for clubs such as Bastia and Olympique Lyonnaise.
The 19 year old former Right to Dream graduate rejected advances from Ajax, Manchester United and Liverpool to sign a 5-year deal with Stade Rennais worth €15 million and he credited Essien for making the decision easier for him.
“I spoke with Michael Essien who played in Bastia and Lyon. He was able to tell me about Ligue 1,” Sulemana told Stade Rennais TV
“It is one of the best championships in Europe. It was a good opportunity.”
“Stade Rennais FC will allow me to have playing time, more than elsewhere I think.”
Sulemana had an impressive campaign in the Danish Superliga last term where he netted 10 goals and provided 8 assists in 29 appearances.
The promising whiz kid is yet to make his competitive bow for Ghana at the senior national team level, the Black Stars albeit featuring in two friendly games for the four-time African champions.