The 21-year-old midfielder is the rising star of the Keita family in Bamako.
Despite playing for French second division side Lorient, thousands miles from home, Seydou's name is already chanted by the kids of his Lafia Bougou neighbourhood.
"Seydou has impressed us a lot in just a few months. He is improving very quickly," said Gourcuff.
On loan
"Although he's only 21, he can sometimes be a bit unsteady, and that's normal. But his technical skills are reflecting on the rest of the team."
"It's true the coach talks a lot about me, says Keita. But he is also very demanding. I am giving my best and he is happy with that."
Seydou plays in Lorient on loan from French giants Olympique de Marseille, who signed him in 1997, as a trainee, after just one training session, following a tip from his famous uncle.
After signing from Marseille, Seydou joined the Mali Under-17 side at the World Cup in Egypt, but did not go straight back to the French club.
"I went back to Mali to play with the Salif Keita Academy who were fighting for promotion," explains Seydou. "So I stayed there for a year-and-a-half before signing a professional contract just after the Under-20 World Cup."
Best player award
At the World Youth Cup, Mali finished a surprising third and Seydou Keita received the 'Best Player of the Tournament' award.
"At the beginning my mother thought that, even if I was 17, it was too early to leave Mali. As an African youngster, to leave your family and go to Europe is not always easy.
"I don't know when Salif left - he was probably 17 or 18. I think it was good to wait a bit. I'm a more mature person now."
Back in Marseille, Seydou immediately won several first team starts and even had a taste of the European Champions League with games against Sturm Graz and Croatia Zagreb.
Moving to Lorient gave Seydou the opportunity to win a regular place in the team, as he was not part of the plans of the Marseille coach at the start of this season.
But now, the Malian star looks forward to playing again at the top level.
Ambition
"Playing in the second division is not my objective. I am only here on loan for a year. So I have to work hard for myself, because I want to be ready for the first division," explained Seydou.
"I've got three years left on my contract with Marseille, so I should go back there.
"But I don't know what is going to happen at the end of the season, whether I will stay with Lorient or go back to Marseille, or somewhere else.
"All I wish is to be in a club where people have confidence in me, as is the case now."
Seydou Keita is much more worried about his future at international level.
Although Africa's governing body CAF confirmed earlier this year that Mali will host the African Cup of Nations finals next year, the country's national team is in a shambles.
Mali's national team are not playing qualifiers as the host nation, and were ousted from the World Cup qualifying campaign after losing to Libya in the preliminary round.
"I wonder why we don't have more friendly games organised. To be honest, we are far from the level of countries like Cameroon. All their players are based in Europe, and on top of that they're playing in the World Cup qualifiers. "
"There is nothing planned for us professionals until June. I think it's a bit late."
But Seydou acknowledges that he has clearly benefited at club level from not playing for his country.
"Clearly, going to Africa so often, even if it is to represent your country, that brings a lot of fatigue. And also you have to face competition in your club when you come back. It's not easy.
"Now Lorient is benefiting from that and Mali is losing out as we don't really have a national team. I hope things will now move fast so we can prepare the Nations Cup in the best conditions."
And then, maybe, the kids in Bamako will chant Seydou's name as they did the famous Salif, who had a fantastic career in France with Saint-Etienne and Marseille.
Salif Keita was also part of the Malian national team who lost the 1972 Nations Cup final 3-2 to Congo.
"One can't really make any comparison, says Seydou. You can't forget Salif is a monument. But it's true, that if you mention the name of Keita now, you'll be told Salif was great but Seydou can also become someone."
"I've certainly not yet reached his level. Everyone knows that, and I know that also. But I like it when people have heard about me and know about me."