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Idrissa Gueye has opened up on his modest dreams as a young footballer, claiming he was thinking about having Adidas clothes rather than being a professional.

The midfielder has quickly established himself as one of Everton's most important players since his move from Aston Villa in the summer of 2016, already making 74 appearances and bagging four goals in his two terms at Goodison Park so far.

The 28-year-old is currently at the World Cup with Senegal, and his deflected effort helped his side to a 2-1 victory over Poland in their first match in the tournament - whilst he played the full 90 minutes in Sunday's 2-2 draw with Japan.

But speaking to French media Gueye has opened up on his time with Diambars, a football academy in Senegal, and how his modest roots have made him the player he is today.

“I was thirteen or fourteen years old. I participated in a series of trials and the last three days was spent in Dakar," Gueye told L'Equipe (via SportWitness ).

"I understood that those who were chosen had yellow and blue bibs. And as I was in red, I thought, ‘It’s dead.’ My luck? There was only one game left and two guys were fighting to be in the middle so I went right back. And Jimmy Adjovi-Boco, on the edge of the pitch, appreciated me. He called me to join the yellow and blue.

“I was so happy because I thought I was going to stop school (laughs). The dream was to have Adidas clothes, not necessarily to be a pro. We were not aware of what it was. Upon arrival, I was warned: ‘Everyone dresses the same, no mobile phone, no difference.’

(Image: PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images)

“Because some were richer than others. One of us was even a talibé, a beggar. He had never set foot in school, he started here at fourteen and has a good job in France today.

“There were four of us in a room, and in my room there were the youngest ones. We had rituals like weighing, sizes. Every week, it was the competition for the one who was growing the most, who was gaining the most weight. In the evening, you ate a lot and did not go to the bathroom.

“Diambars is a family. Everything that touches one touches the other. I spent more time there than with my own family, five years without stopping, alone at that age. We talked about our dreams in the evening, we imagined lives when we had nothing. When I see this journey again… It’s beautiful.”