"We hope to have him ready by Tuesday, so that he can play in the UEFA cup for us," Per-Mathias Høgmo tells rosenborg.info.
RBK has already agreed with Raja Casablanca about the transfer fee for the forward, who has been on loan to Safi this season. What remains is the player signing his own contract.
Originally, Kone - who has been at home in Marocco since the weekend - was supposed to arrive in Trondheim on Thursday, but due to a time-consuming process of getting a visum for Norway, his first steps on Trondheim soil are postphoned until Saturday.
The 24-year old did play three halves, against Brøndby, Djurgården and Pohang Steelers, during the training camp at Gran Canary, and already he has impressed Høgmo.
"He has several good skills: Shoots well with both legs, a great header, has good speed and a good eye for the game," the Rosenborg coach praises.
Many players from the southern hemisphere has during the past not been able/been given enough time (most often, a combination) to adapt to Rosenborg's style of play and the social environment - and hence been classified as a failure. Høgmo is aware of this risk, but thinks that Yssouf Kone is very well prepared to meet the Capital of Trøndelag District.
"He speaks French, Italian and English, fluently. It is worth mentioning that he has lived in Italy for a year and a half, and played for the club Lecce. At that, he has had several years of Maths studies at the University. Yes, he should have what it takes to become a part of the player group," Høgmo states.
