Warren Bondo, one of Serie A’s standout players this season with Monza, recently met with Sébastien Desabre, the coach of the DR Congo national team, sparking speculation about the young midfielder’s potential future with the Leopards.
The 21-year-old, born in Évry, France, and of Congolese descent, has emerged as one of the most exciting talents in Italy’s top flight.
Having started his career at AS Nancy, Bondo made history by becoming the club’s youngest-ever player to sign a professional contract at just 15 years old.
His early promise saw him quickly rise through the ranks, though his journey has not been without setbacks.
After two seasons with Nancy, Bondo joined Monza, who had just been promoted to Serie A.
Still seen as a prospect at the time, Bondo was loaned out to Reggina in Serie B to gain more first-team experience.
Upon his return to Monza, Bondo steadily grew in prominence, earning regular starts by December 2023.
His performances became increasingly impactful, culminating in his first goal in Italy during a stunning 4-2 victory over AC Milan.
This season, Bondo has been a bright spot for a struggling Monza side, currently languishing at the bottom of the Serie A standings.
His technical skills and forward-thinking play have garnered attention, with his pass completion rate exceeding 90%—an impressive feat in the midst of a challenging season for his team.
Bondo’s performances have caught the eye of several Serie A giants, with Inter Milan, AC Milan, and Napoli all reportedly monitoring his progress.
The young midfielder’s future in Italy looks promising, but his international career remains uncertain.
🐆 Sebastien Desabre a rencontré Warren Bondo (milieu de terrain, @ACMonza) en Italie 🇮🇹 !
📝Il y a deux semaines, nous vous présentions le joueur dans l’article consacré aux binationaux à suivre en 2025
Indiscutable en club, le milieu relayeur présente 92% de passes réussies… pic.twitter.com/5mDivmqRwE
— LEOPARDSFOOT (@leopardsfoot) December 29, 2024
Bondo, who played for France’s youth teams from U17 to U20, visited both the DR Congo and Congo-Brazzaville during the summer break, sparking further interest from both countries.
His father hails from the DR Congo, while his mother is from Congo-Brazzaville, making him eligible to represent both nations.
The visit appears to have piqued the interest of DR Congo supporters, who are hopeful that Bondo may soon choose to represent the Leopards.
Sébastien Desabre, the coach of DR Congo, recently visited Monza’s match against Parma, where he met with Bondo and his family.
A photo shared on social media showed Desabre alongside Bondo, his father, and his uncle, leading to widespread speculation that the DR Congo coach had come to observe the young midfielder for a potential call-up.
While the meeting was seen as a positive gesture, there has been no official confirmation that Bondo has decided to switch allegiance to the DR Congo national team.
At 21, Bondo remains eligible for France, and dual nationals like him often face a dilemma when choosing between representing their country of birth or their heritage.
While the DR Congo team, already qualified for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and still in the running for the 2026 World Cup, would be eager to have him, Bondo’s future in international football is still up in the air.
