Sarr put in an impressive performance against Hull. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

Chelsea defender responds to incredible praise which compares him to the world’s best

Originally posted on Chelsea News | Last updated Feb 16, 2026 10:30 AM ET

Chelsea defender Mamadou Sarr has had some pretty incredible comparisons made in his young career so far, he responds to them here.

The Sun have today done a really good piece talking about Mamadou Sarr, who made his Chelsea full debut on Friday. It had some really flattering comparisons to the best players in the world.

“I came from Morocco, but Sarr was already being talked about when I arrived at Lyon,” former teammate Achraf Laziri said.

“They said he was very composed for his age and played the game at his own pace. You just knew he was one of the players who wouldn’t stay there for long.”

His teammates, including Laziri, started calling the elegant defender “Van Dijk” as a nickname.

How Chelsea new signing responded to impressive nickname

That comparison has even reached the defender, who responded thus:

“I want to be like Virgil van Dijk. I love Van Dijk. They called me that when I was younger. But some people also tell me I play like Ibrahima Konate. It’s very similar.

“He’s a leader. For a defender, it’s very important to be a leader. Off and on the pitch, I talk a lot. It’s an important job. I think I anticipate well. With the ball, I can pick a good pass. When I was a kid, I had a dream. It was to be the best centre-back in the world.”

Well, it’s always good to aim high. We’re really excited about what he can bring to Chelsea.

In other news…

Chelsea are looking better and better under Liam Rosenoir, and a big part of that is Cole Palmer’s return to form. Stevie G is very worried about what that means for Liverpool.

Yan Diomande is a player in a lot of demand, and Chelsea could have bought him years ago – but he says he’s happy he never joined them.

This article first appeared on Chelsea News and was syndicated with permission.

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