Ghanaian defender Alidu Seidu credits his rapid rise in professional football to the influence of both his national heroes and his admiration for Spanish legend Sergio Ramos.

The Rennes player, who has become a key figure for both club and country, shared how Black Stars legends like Asamoah Gyan, Mubarak Wakaso, and André Ayew inspired his early ambitions.

“My motivation when I was young was more from the national team. I wanted to one day represent Ghana like Andre Ayew, Asamoah Gyan, and Mubarak Wakaso. I wanted to be like them,” Seidu told Flashscore in an interview.

While his passion for representing Ghana was driven by these local icons, Seidu also looked up to Sergio Ramos, whose aggressive and commanding style as a defender left a lasting impact on him. “I loved Sergio Ramos and wanted to be like him.

As a young boy, when I went on the pitch, I sometimes fought and kicked people because the Spaniard was my role model and he inspired me.”

Ramos' fierce approach to the game, particularly his leadership and competitive edge, shaped Seidu’s own style of play. Growing up in a Zongo community in Ghana, Seidu developed a similarly aggressive attitude on the field.

“I grew up with the aggression because I come from the Zongo in Ghana. I looked up to Ramos for his seriousness and leadership. Whenever he steps onto the pitch, he gives everything.”

However, this intensity led to some early disciplinary struggles for Seidu, as he frequently collected yellow and red cards.

“Like Ramos, when I first started playing professionally, I collected a lot of cards,” he admitted.

Now, at 24, Seidu is focused on refining his game and improving his discipline. “I am really working on my yellow cards and red cards.

I want to take less and finish games without being carded.”

As he continues to shine with Stade Rennais and the Ghana national team, Seidu hopes to emulate the successful careers of the football icons who inspired him from a young age.