Bundesliga
The future of football: Meet the best minors who are bursting onto the scene
Because of today’s exorbitant transfer market, where even average players are paid €100 million, many clubs are turning their attention to young talent. They don’t cost that much and they can be churned out to perfection from the start. Which underage footballers have the most value and should take the football throne by storm in the future?
Due to today’s exorbitant transfer market, where even average players are paid €100 million, many clubs are turning their attention to young talent. They don’t cost that much and they can be churned out to perfection from the start. Which underage footballers have the most value and should take the football throne by storm in the future?
1. Endrick – Real Madrid – €20 million (Transfermarkt market value)
You’ve probably heard of him this week. 16-year-old Endrick has just signed for Real Madrid, with rumours coming out of Brazil that he is set to better Neymar and become one of the best footballers in the world.
He has already won the league with Palmeiras, Los Blancos paid 35 million euros for him, another 25 may come in bonuses. He will grow in Brazil until 2024, then he will embark on a European adventure.
2. Mathys Tel – Bayern Munich – 20 million euros
A talented youngster who is set to make Bayern forget Lewandowski. The French striker has taken on this daunting task with courage, scoring 3 goals in seven Bundesliga duels, and hitting the cup.
Rennes sold him for 30 million euros in the summer, Tel then became Bayern’s youngest ever Bundesliga goalscorer. One of France’s greatest talents with explosive speed, great physical dispositions and perfect finishing.
3. Désire Doué – Stade Rennes – €15 million
Rennes’ goldmine. The Henri-Guérin training centre is one of the best in France, Rennes have already sent out the likes of Eduardo Camavinga, Ousmane Dembélé and the aforementioned Mathys Tel. And they have another gem on their hands.
the 17-year-old striker is one of the sensations of Ligue 1, scoring twice in the autumn and in the Europa League. He can play on the wing or on the top and his greatest asset is his lightning speed.
4. Angelo Gabriel – Santos – €13 million
How to introduce Gabriel? Like this: Santos’ new gem (15 years, 10 months and four days) overtook Pelé (15 years, 10 months and 15 days) as the second-youngest player to make his debut for Santos on the day the Brazilian legend turned 80.
“He’s a classic winger. I really like how it’s terribly easy for him to change direction. He’s very skilful, he likes to dribble and dribble. He hides the ball from you and disappears in a thousandth of a second,” says Gabriela Felipe Araya, a member of Santos’ analytics team.
5. Vitor Roque – Club Athletico Paranaense – 11 million euros
A super talent who has been making his presence felt for some time now. Like Ronaldo, ‘El Fenomeno’ started scoring goals at the age of 16 in Cruzeiro. Now he’s scoring goals for Athletic Parananense and getting great compliments.
“He is only 17, but his technique, physical and mental maturity make him look like he is 23. He is extremely difficult for defenders to defend, has great ball coverage, is very quick and can get involved in combinations,” said Luis Felipe Scolari, coach of the 2002 world champions Brazil.
6. Arda Güler – Fenerbahce – €10 million
A Turkish prodigy whose qualities have been recognised by Prague Slavia and the Czech national team. Barcelona are very interested in the 17-year-old, he showed great results in the Europa League in the autumn. The creative midfielder has a great understanding of the ball and Turkey is investing its future in him.
7. Facundo Buonanotte – CA Rosario Central – €9 million
One of the biggest pearls of Rosario and the whole of Argentine football, 17-year-old Buonanotte has scored 4 goals and added 2 assists this season. “I follow football and I haven’t watched anyone with as much enthusiasm as Facundo for a long time. When he slows down and then speeds up, he reminds me of Messi,” legendary Argentine striker Carlos Tevez said of Buonanotte.
In January, he moves to Brighton, who bought Buonanotte for €6 million + 20% of the resale price. He will certainly give his left-back a good run in the Premier League.
8. Warren Zaïre Emery – París Saint-Germain FC – €6 million
Born only in 2006, Emery is considered one of PSG’s biggest talents. There was so much interest in him that the Parisians preferred to offer him a professional contract until 2025 in June.
Youth football is already too small for him and the 16-year-old midfielder is expected to move on to adult football soon. He is already slowly acclimatising among the PSG stars, having hit 5 games in the autumn.
9. Jobe Bellingham – Birmingham City – €3 million
Yes, you guessed it right, this is the brother of Jude Bellingham who is rolling for Dortmund. Just like his older brother, he jumped in at a young age for Birmingham’s A-team, where he made his debut at 16. He is 7cm shorter than his brother but also has great quality, both do a lot of work and never miss anything on the pitch.
“He needs to develop properly. He is very humble and works hard. We have given him a lot of game time and we are proud of him. He’s only just turned 17 but he’s doing great,” Birmingham coach John Eustance said of Job.
10. Iker Bravo – Real Madrid Castilla – €1 million
Iker Bravo has already played for Leverkusen in the Bundesliga last season and was bought by Real Madrid in the summer. Ironically, the Spanish talent grew up in Barcelona’s La Masia, but then left for Germany, where he became the second-youngest Bayer player to start for the A-team.
meanwhile, the 17-year-old offensive midfielder is playing for the Madrid giant’s Castilla and has great references going for him. As a typical Spaniard, he boasts great technique and is ambidextrous, but his greatest asset is his shot from distance.
Source: Transfermarkt
