Odilon Kossounou #7

Profile

The 25-year-old has all the hallmarks of a modern centre-back: tall and strong, assured on the ball and aggressive without it. He has partnered Evan N’Dicka in the Côte d’Ivoire backline since 2024 and it is a rock-solid pairing – Emerse Faé’s side did not concede a single goal in 10 matches in World Cup qualifying. After winning titles in Belgium with Club Brugge and Germany with Bayer Leverkusen, last summer’s permanent move to Atalanta has given him the opportunity to improve on a different side of his game. “In Serie A it is very important to be awake tactically,” he has said.

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