Barcelona Star Franck Kessie Reveals Inspiration Behind His Iconic 'Salute' Goal Celebration

• Barcelona and Ivory Coast star Franck Kessie has scored his first goal for Barcelona since joining from AC Milan
• The Ivorian football celebrated his goal by doing his iconic salute which has been a part of him since his days in Italy
• Franck Kessie started and starred as Barcelona thrashed Viktoria Plzen in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday

Franck Kessie has revealed that his iconic salute celebration is a tribute to his late father who served in the Ivorian army.

The Ivory Coast scored his first Barcelona goal in the UEFA Champions League clash against Viktoria Plzen on Wednesday.

After the game, which Barcelona won 5-1, Kessie explained that the celebration pays homage to his father who died when he was just eleven.

"My father was a footballer in Ivory Coast, but then he found himself in the army to serve his country. He died of illness shortly after I was 11. When I score goals I like to do this kind of salute in his honour," he said as quoted by 13 Football.

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Kessie, who joined Barcelona in the summer transfer window, produced his salute celebration after opening the scoring in the 5-1 victory on Wednesday.

Polish forward Robert Lewandowski scored a hat-trick before Ferran Torres sealed victory at the Camp Nou.

Franck Kessie break 14-year-old Barcelona record

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Franck Kessie has broken a record set by Sergio Busquets at Barcelona 14 years ago on his UEFA Champions League debut.

The Ivory Coast midfielder became the fastest Barcelona player to score on his UEFA Champions League debut with his 13th minute strike against Viktoria Plzen.

And according to OptaJose, the former AC Milan player beats Sergio Busquests 15 minute UEFA Champions League debut goal against FC Basel in 2008.

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Frank Kessie wants to emulate Yaya Toure's success at Barcelona

New Barcelona signing Franck Kessie has set his targets early on at his new club.

The midfielder was officially unveiled by Barcelona's President Joan Laporta. Kessie quipped that he would like to follow in the footsteps of Yaya Toure, a Barcelona legend. Toure also comes from Ivory Coast, the same country that Kessie represents internationally.

Football Espana reports that Kessie mentioned outrightly that he adored Toure, who has since retired.