Bamo Meite’s lack of playing time at Olympique de Marseille is becoming increasingly concerning, according to former club and Cote d’Ivoire forward Bakari Kone.
The 24-year-old defender has made only occasional appearances for Marseille since the start of the season, leaving him without the regular run of matches needed to establish himself.
Kone believes the former Lorient player has the ability to succeed but risks seeing his development slow without greater continuity.
“S’accrocher a l’OM sans jouer, c’est gacher son talent” clinging to Marseille without playing is wasting his talent, Kone said.
The former Cote d’Ivoire international also highlighted the importance of competitive football for a defender of Meite’s age. Regular matches would give him the opportunity to improve his consistency and maintain his progress.
Kone’s comments come with Meite’s position at Marseille uncertain. If his situation does not improve in the coming months, the former striker believes a move during the winter transfer window could benefit the defender.
Meite remains under contract with Olympique de Marseille until 2028. He is currently valued at 7 million euros by Transfermarkt and earns an annual salary of 300,000 euros, equivalent to 195,000,000 FCFA, at the club.
Kone said joining a team where Meite could secure regular starts would allow him to rebuild his momentum. It could also help the defender remain in contention for selection by Cote d’Ivoire.
For now, Meite remains largely restricted to a supporting role at Marseille, despite his contract length and the club’s investment in him. Kone’s concern is that time spent on the sidelines could prevent the 24-year-old from developing as expected and reduce his prospects of returning to the national team.