Ismaëlo Ganiou is making a name for himself in Ligue 1. The 21-year-old defender's performances with RC Lens have caught the attention of Adil Rami, who sees him as a player with characteristics similar to those of Jules Koundé at the start of his career in the French league, as well as a potential call-up to the national team.
“You could say he’s a real Swiss Army knife. He reminds me a bit of Koundé at the beginning of his time in Ligue 1,” said the former defender on Ligue 1+.
Rami, impressed by Ganiou's ability to play in multiple positions, added: “He can play on the flank or in the center. He’s a defender who is confident in himself, with excellent game vision, good passing, and a lot of determination.”
However, Rami believes that the Lens player still needs to improve in certain areas. “Sometimes, he holds onto the ball a bit too long, he takes a bit too much time, he could be quicker in his play. But otherwise, he has always shown himself to be solid in his duels,” he noted.
With four matches and one goal in Ligue 1 this season, Ganiou seems to be reaching a new level. “Compared to last season, you can feel that he is accelerating his development. He’s really a defender who is starting to get noticed more and more,” the analyst emphasized, before making a prediction: “We could also see him in the French national team in a few months.”
Already a French U21 international, the Lens defender could continue to climb the ranks and aim for a first call-up to the senior team.
