Arsenal Football Club protégé Leo Messo is primed to represent Kenya’s national team, Harambee Stars, when he comes of age.The ten year-old’s father Benson Messo says he hopes his young superstar turns out for Harambee Stars in the future.Messo made headlines globally when he joined the Arsenal youth team in May 2021 from West Ham Academy. The 10-year old is highly rated and the hype surrounding him saw him covered by reputable outlets across the world when he moved to the North London club.The youngster was born in London to Kenyan parents. His dad Messo senior hails from Siaya County while his mother hails from Kiambu County.Arsenal have signed 10-year-old Kenyan youngster Leo Messo. pic.twitter.com/vgYBZanQBC— Chris Wheatley (@ChrisWheatley_) May 19, 2021 His father describes him as an ambidextrous midfielder who clones his game around France and Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante and Germany and Fenerbahce star Mesut Ozil.“Leo is a versatile player who uses both feet and mirrors his game around N’Golo K and Ozil,” Messo senior told Mozzart Sport.For Leo’s dad, the contract with the Gunners did not come easy, he says the youngster worked hard to earn the deal with the record FA Cup winners.“Yes he worked for it, he worked very hard and I am happy that his effort paid off,” he added.While some players with Kenyan roots like Divock Origi snubbed the Kenya national team, Messo senior hopes his young son turns out for Kenya in the future.“We hope to see him play one day for Kenya,” he concluded.From Siaya to the world. Jango aka Leo Messo joins Arsenal Football Academy. pic.twitter.com/ltSEojPRGL— Mpasho News (@MpashoNews) May 19, 2021 Messo will be hoping to come through the Arsenal Academy like Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe who are both key first-team players for the Gunners at the moment.Patrick Hadden, one of the co-founders of Finesse Sport United FC, a London academy where Messo came through has seen him grow career-wise.“We started coaching Leo a few years ago when he was five. Since then we’ve gradually been able to build a team, he’s stayed training with us consistently to the point where Arsenal have decided to sign him at under-9s,” he told Football London.“West Ham really wanted to keep him, Chelsea liked him but didn’t offer him a contract from my knowledge. Arsenal offered him and the dad was happy for him to join. At that age group, they’re not really restricted to a position. He’s both footed, a technical player who can play on the left, right and in the middle – he’s very tenacious in the way he goes about his business on the pitch,” he added. ##EDITORS_CHOICE##
