At Rennes, he requested recordings of his matches to study them and improve: a portrait of the Nerazzurri’s new midfielder.

There is a touch of nobility in Andy Diouf’s footballing blood. The French midfielder arriving at Inter grew up in two of the best training centers in the country. He started at PSG before completing his education at Rennes, then took flight at Lens after catching the eye at Basel. Inter and Italy are somewhat destined for this 22-year-old, who made his Youth League debut five years ago against the Nerazzurri.
He also took his first steps with Les Bleus against the Azzurri, winning a silver medal at the Olympics a year ago. Diouf is a box-to-box midfielder, capable of playing in front of the defense or as a central midfielder in various tactical roles and different formations.
This versatility made him an indispensable player for Will Still, Lens’ coach last season, before he moved to England, to Southampton. It was no coincidence that several Premier League clubs had been interested in the Frenchman for some time, appreciating his combination of physical and athletic power, which allowed him to play all 34 games in the last Ligue 1 season.

experience—  He has much more to offer. Diouf arrived in Lens two years ago, signing a five-year contract in front of the fans in the square, temporarily becoming the most expensive player in the club’s history. The midfielder was signed for $15 million from Basel, where he had enjoyed a prominent season as the best young player in the Conference League, which ended in the semi-finals with a defeat to Fiorentina, against whom he scored in the first leg. He was third in the competition with three assists in 14 appearances, earning him a place in the competition’s team of the season. This was enough to convince Lens to make him the successor to Fofana, the captain who moved to Saudi Arabia before returning to Rennes.

Debut—  Diouf took his first steps as a professional in Rennes, making his debut at just 17 years of age in May 2021 against PSG, where he had spent three years chasing his childhood dreams of becoming a footballer between 2009 and 2012. It was a special match for the midfielder born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, on the outskirts of the capital, who grew up in Nanterre and blossomed as a footballer between La Garenne-Colombes and Boulogne-Billancourt. But even then, the young boy had clear ideas and aimed high.
So he was taken to Brittany where, for example, he asked for recordings of his matches so he could study them and improve.

determination—  In Lens, the 22-year-old then broadened his personal experience in the Champions League, with two appearances, and in the Europa League, where the French team had been relegated. Within two years, Diouf established himself in an attacking football culture, first with Haise on the bench, then with Still, who brought out his ability to drive forward, pick up the ball and shoot on goal, as well as his natural ability to shoot from outside the box, while still making his physical presence felt in recovery and tackling. These are all qualities to be consolidated in a new league and a new challenge that the Frenchman is facing with his usual determination: “If you work hard and believe in yourself in football, everything happens quickly.”