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MLS Charlotte FC

Djibril Diani: More Than Meets the Eye

February 15, 2024 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Charlotte FC News Release


France continues to emerge as a fertile ground for talent acquisition for Charlotte FC, with their latest signing, midfielder Djibril Diani, making the switch from Caen. This trend follows the footsteps of previous notable CLTFC signings with French ties, including Brecht Dejaegere, Adilson Malanda, and Jere Uronen.

After a nearly two-year evaluation and recruitment process, Charlotte FC seized the opportunity to add the left-footed Frenchman to the roster, recognizing his potential to significantly bolster the team across various fronts.

"Djibril is a player that has been closely monitored by our recruitment team over a long period of time," said Charlotte FC Director of Scouting Thomas Schaling. "After previous attempts to add him to our roster were unsuccessful, the timing during this transfer window worked out better for all parties.

"In our conversations with Djibril, he mentioned explicitly how much it meant to him that the Club had followed him for such a long time and had actively pursued signing him on numerous occasions. He is a player that really wants to be in Charlotte and play for Charlotte FC, which is extremely important to us."

Diani, towering at an impressive six feet five inches, excels primarily as a defensive midfielder and provides depth for the left center back role. While his imposing stature provides a formidable presence as a shield for the backline, Schaling believes that looks can be deceptive.

"People might expect something different from Djibril when they first see him on the pitch," said Schaling. "For someone of his size, he is deceptively technical, tidy on the ball, and he looks to play forward whenever he can. He can cover the ground with his long legs and help us on both sides of the ball. We believe he is a great addition due to his specific qualities and versatility. He complements our midfield group very well and has also regularly played as a central defender."

Diani's ability to retain possession and quickly distribute the ball through technical prowess, rather than overly relying on his physicality, will certainly be a great asset. This refined first touch and willingness to play line-breaking, forward passes align well with the playing style Dean Smith is implementing, emphasizing fast and efficient build-up play.

Defensively, the Frenchman has an obviously long reach, making it challenging for opponents to bypass him either through dribbling or passing, a fact corroborated by his statistics from the previous season. Despite not being particularly renowned for his pace, Diani compensates well with his other physical traits.

Additionally, Diani boasts experience as a center back, particularly on the left side, a position that Charlotte FC has been actively looking to reinforce. Although primarily recruited and viewed as a midfielder, Diani's versatility allows him to transition into this defensive role when required. Over a long season in a salary cap league like MLS, having positional flexibility to cover injuries, suspensions, and other absences is key to a strong roster.

While Ashley Westwood already fills the defensive midfielder role for the team, Diani's arrival introduces a distinct playing profile that could prove valuable in certain matchups or complement Westwood's style should they feature together.

The 26-year-old, who just a season ago logged 2,000 minutes of play, arrives in Charlotte poised to enter the prime years of his career, further reinforcing an already formidable midfield contingent.

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