If the Frenchman discovered Sclessin on Friday, the opposite is also true. Trained largely in Lille, this Parisian of origin then continued his training in Italy with Chievo Verona (2019/20) and Torino (2020/21), without breaking through there, before returning to France, to Guingamp (2022/23) and then to Versailles, not without having made a short detour to Belgium, to Virton, then a resident of D1B. A journey far from the lights for a player who remains unknown in the eyes of the general public. “I can understand that supporters have questions about me since I come from the French D3. But several clubs have already recruited profiles similar to mine in the past for which it worked. So I understand the questions but the only truth is that on the ground. I feel ready to face this challenge.”
gullI can understand the supporters’ questions about me.
When Standard came to pick him up, Ibrahim Karamoko did not hesitate for a second, seduced by the speeches of the management and the coach. “I didn’t think twice when Standard showed up. Especially since the discussions were clear, with game projects that really interested me. Coming to Standard was obvious.”
A defender with a past… as an attacker
Although he was trained to play as a central defender, Ibrahim Karamoko has already moved around a lot on the pitch. Mainly placed in a defensive midfielder position, he also evolved as an attacking midfielder or even as an attacker, notably during his time at Virton. “I myself was surprised by this choice of the coach at the time. When I played in Italy, I played in several positions, a little more offensive, and the Virton coach then decided to play me as an attacker. It was difficult for me to find my bearings in this position but looking back, I tell myself that it allowed me to understand the other positions on the pitch a little better and made me a more complete player. But today, it is as a defensive midfielder that I feel most comfortable.”
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-At Standard, Ivan Leko asks his players to defend a lot and increase the number of runs. “When the coach spoke to me about the playing system, I immediately liked it because I am someone who doesn’t shy away. In Italy, I discovered the culture of winning and the grinta that goes with it. . It’s something that’s now part of me.”
This is something he has sometimes been criticized for in the past, with certain trainers pushing him to his limits to get the most out of his potential. “At the time, I didn’t realize that I needed to be shaken so much. But today, I realize that all these discussions were useful. I have often been criticized for my nonchalant attitude and it is something that I have worked on a lot, to change certain attitudes in my head or on the ground, and erase this label that stuck to my skin. All of this allowed me to mature and grow.”
At 23, Ibrahim Karamoko is aware that he may be at a turning point in his career. “Past experiences have made me grow, I feel ready to face this pivotal moment in my career.”
Just to get it off the ground. “Like any player, I have a career plan but the most important thing is to concentrate on the present moment, to work well every day in training and to have a healthy lifestyle. I always set myself goals, the first to achieve will be to move Standard away from the playdowns as quickly as possible and then think about the playoffs.”
