Joey Barton: N’Golo Kante is overrated and this is why

N’Golo Kante has been the heartbeat of Chelsea’s midfield this season as he looks set to secure back-to-back Premier League winners medals, but one current pro doesn’t rate the Frenchman.

Often outspoken, Joey Barton has had his say on Kante and believes he’s not all that.

The former Caen standout impressed for Leicester last season, with his tenacity and work rate in midfield an integral part of the Foxes’ title-winning campaign, named their Player’s Player of the Year, earning a place in the PFA Team of the Year and breaking into the France national team in the process.

Under Antonio Conte, Kante has not missed a beat for the Blues and was named the Player of the Year at the London Football Awards and remains a hot favourite to be named PFA Player of the Year which begs the question: Why does Joey Barton not rate N’Golo Kante?

The Burnley midfielder, who was recently charged with breaching FA betting regulations having been found guilty of placing over 1,260 bets throughout his playing career and faces the very real possibility of a ban for his actions, thinks people should ease up on the Kante hype train because he’s not a creator.

Speaking with French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche (h/t the London Evening Standard), Barton said:

At the moment, in England, people only swear by N’Golo Kante. It’s the fashion. For pundits, he’s the best midfielder in the world. Oh! He’s very good, but I played against him three weeks ago, and that’s not the case. He’s a fantastic destroyer in a phenomenal team, but not a creator.

Barton continues by saying it’s impossible to claim a player who has never played a minute of Champions League football as one of the best in the game.

It’s impossible to be so definitive with a player who hasn’t played a game in the Champions League. Two years ago, no one knew him, and I’m surprised that all of the scouts had missed him before. I’m of a sceptical nature.

I guess we’ll find out definitively next season whether Kante can hack it in the Champions League, but, we’re pretty sure he can. Sorry, Joey.