It was a truly topsy-turvy encounter when Fiorentina took on Inter at the Stadio Artemio Franchi last Saturday night. The lead changed hands on multiple occasions, Mauro Icardi bagged a hat-trick for the Nerazzurri but still saw his side defeated 5-4 by the Viola. Fiorentina number 10 Federico Bernardeschi was jeered by the crowd after missing a penalty in comical fashion, the real hero from the home fans' perspective eventually being Khouma Babacar.
The striker replaced the suspended Nikola Kalinic in the starting XI, going on to bag two goals and almost getting a third, but this was nothing new to fans in the Curva Fiesole, as Babacar had done this before. Scoring a stunning curling effort against the San Siro giants in a memorable 3-0 home victory back in 2014, the 24-year-old also tapped in a last-minute winner the following season.
It is also no surprise therefore that the player revealed that he had been approached by the club he has so regularly triumphed against in an interview released before the weekend’s fixture. “Inter wanted me. Seriously,” Babacar told Gazzetta dello Sport. “But then I chose Florence. This city has welcomed me as a child, I feel indebted to them. I want to do something important for our fans.”
It is not just the Nerazzurri, however that have shown interest in the Fiorentina youth product. Both Crystal Palace and Watford reportedly made January bids for the player and are said to be looking to renew their interest this summer, but they just might find themselves out of luck. With the re-hiring of sporting director Pantaleo Corvino, Babacar finds himself back together with the man who brought him to the club in the first place.
"He's a second father,” he continued in that same interview. “He brought me to Florence 10 years ago. I trust Corvino." The feeling is certainly mutual with the experienced director having decided to keep the striker in Florence next term. “Bernardeschi, Federico Chiesa and Khouma Babacar are the seeds we sowed, cared for and helped to grow,” Corvino told Mediaset Premium. “So now they should be bearing fruit by representing the future of this team.”
After beginning his career in the academy of home-town team US Rail in Senegal, the 6’3” striker bravely moved to Italy at the age of 14, joining the youth ranks of Pescara. After interest from Genoa, Babacar would join Fiorentina just one year later, eventually making his debut at the age of 16 under former boss Cesare Prandelli.
Loans to Racing Santander, Padova and Modena followed but it was to be under Vincenzo Montella when the youngster would really begin to shine. "With the Mister I had fun. Often at the end of training he challenged me,” he said. “Ten shots from outside area to see who scored the most. I almost always won. I wish Montella well.” It was then, during the 2014-15 campaign that he would explode into the first team with that stunning strike against Inter, but since then has struggled to truly make the breakthrough.
Montella was replaced by Paulo Sousa at the start of 2015-16 season, and with him arrived Croatian international striker Nikola Kalinic. That year Babacar faced limited appearances, but scored five goals in just 11 starts proved that his ability was there nonetheless. An improved tally this term of nine goals in 10 starts indicates the work that has been done, but at 24 years old it really is time to turn potential into actuality.
"At the moment I have not had many opportunities," he confirmed. "But it’s certainly not Kalinic's fault that he is one of the strongest strikers in Europe. I need to demonstrate my validity. I'm no longer a kid. It's time to prove to everyone that I'm ready for a leading role."
With Sousa’s departure confirmed and Corvino’s desire to build a strong team for next season based on a core of talented young players, the conditions are ideal for Babacar to finally make the breakthrough. His comments show that he is ready to endear himself to the Viola’s faithful supporters, and they are most certainly ready to receive him with open arms.
