I Want To Be Like Makélélé – Rennes’ Stéphane Mbia

Cameroon international Stéphane Mbia appeared poised to depart Stade Rennais this summer as a flurry of interest in the 22 year-old midfielder attracted bids from several English Premier League sides.

Everton were most intent on chasing the Yaounde-born star, who expressed his interest in departing France before being talked around by head coach Guy Lacombe; something the versatile youngster does not regret.

“Guy Lacombe explained to me that I should move forward a little and have some more maturity,” Mbia explained to France Football. “His words forced me to reflect and I thought why not?

“I still need to improve. I need to improve offensively by scoring more goals and I also need to improve my recovery of the ball.”

There is one man, above all, that Mbia looks to for inspiration. “I always think of Claude Makélélé, who is the best midfielder in the world,” he volunteered. “I want to have the same career and the same lifestyle that he has had.

“We talked when we were in Paris but I need to get his telephone number to try and ask him for advice!”

Mbia, who will return to the Rennes side to play Lille this weekend after shaking off an injury that kept him out of last weekend’s Coupe de France triumph over Caen, is unlikely to move away from the north-west of France until the summer months.

Robin Bairner, Goal.com