Seydou Keita's arrival in France, signing for Marseille at just 19 with an exciting reputation to back up, proved a real baptism of fire.

Overwhelmed by the demanding public and pressure to succeed, he never established himself at the Mediterranean club, playing just 10 games in his first season. But his time on the South coast did provide an invaluable experience for the marauding midfielder, who got his first taste of the Champions’ League that same year.

He joined Second Division Lorient the next season was an integral part of the side that won promotion to Ligue 1. He then proved that he had what it took to establish himself in France’s top flight, linking up well with attackers Pascal Feindouno and Jean-Claude Darcheville as the Brittany club lifted the 2002 Coupe de France.

His hard-tackling style and willingness to get forward did not go unnoticed and at 22 he was snapped up by Les Sang et Or.

Keita made 28 League appearances during the 2002-03 season, and also rediscovered European competition thanks to Lens’ Champions’ League and UEFA Cup run. Injury hampered his progress last season, but he was fit in time to represent his country at the African Nations Cup where Mali made it to the semi-finals.

In the 2004/05 campaign, his complicity with France international Alou Diarra in the heart of the Lens midfield was one of the few positives during a trying period for the club.