The new Kante

KICK OFF: You went straight from Real Bamako in Mali to RB Salzburg, via their feeder team Liefering. You were still a teenager then, so what was the adjustment like for you?

It was not so easy in the beginning, but when you start playing football you plan to come to Europe and be a professional football player. I had the chance to start in a good environment in Salzburg, where they have a lot of young players. I started in the academy, because I think to have started in the first team it was too early. There I developed a lot and they gave me my time. I had to change a few things, like the food I eat, but this is not a big deal, when you want to achieve something you have to make sacrifices. Moving to Hoffenheim, everybody knows the team here, it is a good team with a lot of foundation. People are really nice to me, I feel at home here. I am here for nine months, but I feel like I have always been here. I am here