France midfielder N’Golo Kante has made an exciting move off the pitch, as he has acquired Belgian third-tier club Royal Excelsior Virton.
Starting from 1st July, he will replace Flavio Becca as chairman of the club, which is located near the Luxembourg border. Interestingly, this is the same date when Kante is set to join Saudi Arabia Pro League side Al-Ittihad after leaving Premier League club Chelsea.
“Flavio is obviously extremely happy to be able to hand over the keys of the club to N’Golo Kante,” said the club in a statement.
“[He is] a player of great class, not only for his footballing qualities but also and above all for his unanimously recognised human qualities.”
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Royal Excelsior Virton is currently working on reclaiming their professional licence and is gearing up to compete in the Belgian National Division 1 during the 2023-24 season. While this division is two steps below the top-tier Belgian Pro League, it offers an exciting opportunity for the club to develop and grow. The financial details of Kante’s purchase have not been disclosed, but the club assures that it is debt-free.
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Additionally, a board of directors will be assembled in the upcoming days to aid in managing the club’s affairs.
Kante’s football journey began in France’s amateur divisions, where he played for Boulogne before catching the attention of Caen in 2013. He gained prominence on the global stage when he played a pivotal role in Leicester City’s fairy-tale Premier League title win during the 2015-16 season before making a move to Chelsea.
During his time at Stamford Bridge, Kante collected numerous prestigious titles, including the Champions League, Premier League, Europa League, and FA Cup. Furthermore, he played a crucial part in France’s triumph at the 2018 World Cup.
Kante’s purchase of Excelsior Virton follows a trend of professional players venturing into club ownership. Recently, Wilfried Zaha announced his deal to purchase AFC Croydon Athletic with the collaboration of rapper Stormzy, adding further excitement to the realm of football club ownership.
