Malick Yalcoute announced himself to an unsuspecting Swedish public by shining against a player bound for the Premier League.
Albion’s latest signing was ahead of schedule from that point onwards.
The plan was for him to be given time to adjust after his move to IFK Gothenburg from ASEC Mimosas in Ivory Coast earlier this year.
But Yalcouye obviously did not read that script.
He was given a first chance to shine and played a big part in the 3-0 Swedish Cup win over Djurgaarden in February, when he was up against the Tottenham-bound Lucas Bergvall.
From that stage, there was no looking back - although few could have imagined how quickly he would be in the training complex in Lancing, holding aloft an Albion shirt.
Yalcouye’s much anticipated £6 million move from Gothenburg was confirmed on Friday evening.
Marcus Liedbergius, who covers Gothenburg for Fotboll Direkt, remembers that tussle with Bergvall and said: “Yalcouye outplayed him big time.
“He was stealing the show. He was just crazily good.
“He was bought for the long term but, as he progressed, I think we expected him to leave this summer because he had been incredible.
“He is young, skinny. It was almost like he didn’t understand how hard it was supposed to be.
“He couldn’t speak English so there was the problem with communicating.
“So I think people were confused how he could be that good.”
Bergvall, 18, joined Spurs earlier this month.
Meanwhile Gothenburg have banked a club record fee for Yalcouye.
Liedberghuis understands why he is an unknown quantity for many Albion fans but said: “We were just getting to know him as well!
“He has reminded me of Ngolo Kante.
“He has a very high work-rate and he is speedy.
“He has been given freedom to move around the pitch and he is very good when he is pressing.
“He’s good on the ball. He is very good technically.
“He has got everything but most of all his work-rate is incredible.
“He really impressed everyone. And it all happened so fast.
“They wanted to give him an easy way in and time to adapt but he impressed everyone in the first games.”
Yalcouye is best used as a No.8-type central midfielder but can also operate in a more defensive-minded role.
Ola Larsson, technical director at Gothenburg, sees Yalcouye’s time at the club as an “I was there” experience.
Larsson said: “He became a crowd favourite right from the first match and since then he has only grown and grown.
“It has been a spring that few blue-whites will forget.
“I think many will look back on this time with pride and say that ‘I was there at Malick Yalcouye’s first match’ or that I saw him at Ullevi (stadium) when he broke through.”
Liedbergius believes the physical aspect could be the biggest challenge facing Yalcouye when he gets to work in England.
But he accepts Yalcouye has already proved expectations wrong.
Gothenburg are traditionally one of the bigger Swedish clubs so the initial perception might be that he was impressing in a strong team in his new league.
In fact, thy are not a force these days and lost six of the 11 league games in which he featured but Yalcouye still shone.
The first of those Allsvenskan outings came as recently as April 1 this year. The last was a 5-2 defeat at AIK Solna in late May.
He scored his only goal in a 3-0 win at IF Brommapojkarna and generally played the full 90 minutes of matches.
Yalcouye holds dual nationality with Mali and Ivory Coast and graduated through the academy at Mimosas, where he made his professional debut in the African Champions League.
Albion’s players who were not on international duty are now hard at work at Lancing as they build up to the new season.
They face J.League outfit Kashima Antlers a week on Wednesday and Tokyo Verdy four days later.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel