BRADENTON, Fla. – Soccer is considered a global language. Played around the world, the game transcends borders, cultures, and even language barriers. When it comes to hitting the pitch – whether you speak Spanish, French, English, or otherwise – conversations are understood through play.
When building teams, the global aspect of soccer creates diverse rosters, filled with players from around the world. While this is something to be celebrated, it can at times present challenges when players don’t speak the same language. For two of the New England Revolution’s new additions to the back line, Brayan Ceballos and Mamadou Fofana, they're beginning to clearly understand each other on the pitch despite their language barrier.
“We didn’t understand each other (at first), because he doesn’t speak English,” said Fofana, a 27-year-old center back. “But you know in football, when we play, we don’t have to speak too much. If I do my job, he can follow me. If he does his job, I can follow him."
Fofana joins the Revolution from Amiens SC, a French club in Ligue 2, the second division of French Football, where he made 120 appearances. In addition to his time at Amiens SC, Fofana played 80 games for FC Metz, which included 37 appearances in the French Ligue 1, while he has represented his home country of Mali on the international stage 44 times, and also has experience with Turkish Süper Lig side Alanyaspor.
Fofana is still mastering the English language, but says he first started speaking English in Turkey, learning from three Ghanaian players who spoke the language. “Now I try to improve,” he said with a laugh. “Believe me, I will.”
Spanish-speaking Ceballos, who joins Fofana on the backline as a central defender, comes to MLS from Fortaleza Esporte Club in Brazil. A native of Santiago de Cali, Colombia, Ceballos has played for clubs across the globe, making 110 career appearances for clubs in Brazil, Colombia, and most recently on loan with Dynamo Kyiv in Ukraine.
The 23-year-old defender is excited to be in the United States and gain experience in MLS. “It’s a league that’s growing and evolving a lot. In recent years, the league has evolved a lot with globally known players. I wanted to be here in MLS. Thanks to God, the opportunity came for me to be here,” said Ceballos. “I arrived with a lot of excitement to be here and play in this league. It’s a league that’s evolved a lot and a league where I can regain my rhythm in my career and reach my highest level.”
When asked about how he has been building chemistry with fellow newcomer Fofana, his likely partner in central defense, Ceballos was excited about how well they are starting to play together out of the back.
“In the training sessions that we’ve had together, the coaches have paired us together in the defense. I think we’re two players that are very similar in characteristics,” he explained. “We both feel good. We’ve been working hard these past few days since we returned from the break. I think we’ve had good communication and good performances in the training sessions we’ve had together.”
For head coach Caleb Porter, he believes Ceballos and Fofana are players who will fulfill the club’s defensive vision for the 2025 season.
“The two central defenders in particular, obviously, are brand new and even when you look at the four central defenders, they’re all new," said Porter, referencing MLS veteran additions in Tanner Beason and Wyatt Omsberg. "So, it will take some time to gel and gain that chemistry, but I think you’ve seen even with new pieces, if there’s an understanding of how we’re going to play and that’s very clear, then it’s easier for them to execute and to do what they need to. If we picked the right players to do what we think will be natural for them, they do these things and it’s much easier.
“I think you see with Brayan Ceballos, it’s very natural for him. Mamadou [Fofana] has just been here for a couple days, he trained over the break, and now we’re able to really integrate him into the trainings, the tactical sessions, and into the game.”
For both center backs, it's apparent that they're excited to continue building unity as a team and working to accomplish big goals this upcoming season. On the back line, New England has found success in the first two preseason games, with two clean sheets to start the campaign down in Florida.
“Everybody has welcomed me here to join them. I am happy and we start to work. The first week was perfect. We are here, we work [well], we keep pushing, and I speak with the coach and the coach [explained] what he expects of me and what he wants me to do. I am very excited to play with my new team,” said Fofana.
Similarly, Ceballos emphasized the group starting to come together as one: “The players take the lead on chemistry and coming together as a team. We’ve been forming that chemistry and uniting.”
