Canadian rising star Ismaël Koné will play in a third country in as many years after Olympique de Marseille (OM) loaned the midfielder to U.S. Sassuolo Calcio in Italy’s Serie A. The loan comes after OM released footage of an altercation between Koné and Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi at the training ground, shot during a team-produced documentary on the 2024-2025 campaign. The video shows De Zerbi screaming at Koné to “reduce the touches” after he is disposed, leading to the manager shouting: “Go take a shower.” “Call your agent to come here!” the Italian coach screams before Koné responds, “I didn’t say anything,” while approaching the coach. Players and other coaches intervene to separate the two. The 23-year-old arrived at OM in Ligue 1 from Watford in the English Championship division (one below the Premier League) in 2024 for just over $19 million CAD. He failed to break into the squad, making just eight appearances, and was loaned to Rennes in February for the remainder of the season. He scored twice for Rennes. “He’s one of the players with the most potential at Olympique Marseille, but who didn’t always behave well. Someone who had highs and lows that were too big for a player who is ready for Olympique Marseille,” De Zerbi says in the documentary footage. Koné was born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, before moving to Canada with his mother at the age of seven. He grew up in Montreal’s NDG borough and joined CS Saint-Laurent when he was 16. He tried out in Belgium before signing with CF Montreal in 2021. He then moved to Watford in 2022, the same year he was called up to play for Canada during the country’s successful World Cup qualifying campaign. He appeared in all three of Canada’s World Cup matches and was named the men’s 2022 Canada Soccer Young Player of the Year. With files from TSN
