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Cape Town - Former France midfielder Claude Makelele feels N'Golo Kante is not far away from level expected of an elite midfielder.
Makelele is considered as the footballer that re-invented the defensive midfield role during his time at Chelsea and Real Madrid.
Just 12 months ago, Kante was an unknown entity playing for Ligue 1 side Caen and one year later he's become a English Premier League winner with Leicester City and starting for his country as they host Euro 16.
Now, from relative obscurity the 25-year-old has been lauded as Makelele's heir within the Les Bleus squad.
The 1998 World Cup winner admits that with a bit more experience at the highest level Kante can become one of the most complete midfielders and claims he would form a dream partnership with Marco Verratti at Paris Saint-Germain.
"For me, he has a great deal he can improve on," the 43-year-old told the Daily Mail. "If he continues like this, to work hard, he will become a key player in a big European team.
"When I imagine him with [PSG midfielder] Marco Verratti, I reckon it would be a real pleasure. He has to aim for that level.
"Do you know the most important quality for a holding midfielder? It is generosity. And everyone can see that N'Golo has it.
"The second thing is positional sense to guarantee the balance of the team. For a player of his age, who is not used to the role, I find him very mature.
"Of course, when I see him, I can see myself, but above all, he has to be himself, and he is doing very well at that. His next aim should be to be recognised as the base of his team.
"His team-mates go on the pitch and say: 'OK, he is here, he will handle any problems'. And I have no worries about that because you feel he is happy to be there, he is humble, and he will only be loved by his team-mates."
