young talents 2016 - Alban Lafont.

Alban Lafont

Club: Toulouse
 
Position: Goalkeeper
 
Born: 23 January 1999


Anyone who tuned in last month expecting to see Paris Saint-Germain's latest procession towards another French title will have had a bit of a surprise. Toulouse, who avoided relegation last season by a single point, shocked their rich rivals from the capital city thanks to a brilliant display from Lafont. Born in Burkina Faso, last season the towering teenager became the youngest player ever to appear in Ligue 1, at the age of 16 years and 310 days, and was the catalyst for Toulouse's great escape that saw them overhaul a 10-point deficit to survive. Has a great future.

 

young talents 2016 - Malang Sarr.

Malang Sarr

Club: Nice
 
Position: Defender
 
Born: 23 January 1999





The Eaglets of Nice are flying high near the top of Ligue 1 this season and in part that is down to the promotion of Sarr, the only 1999-born player who is a top-flight regular. Sarr played for France’s Under-17s in the European Championship last summer – the team were eliminated without scoring a goal – but Nice's new coach, Lucien Favre, liked what he saw of Sarr in pre-season. The 17-year-old has played in a back four and a back three this season. He dedicated the goal he scored on his league debut – the winner against Rennes – to the victims of the Nice terror attack. So far this season, he has been linked to PSG, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Internazionale. 

young talents 2016, Sergei Eremenko.

Sergei Eremenko

Club: Basel FC
 

Position: Midfielder
 
Born: 6 January 1999


 Sergei comes from a footballing family. His brother Roman is the star playmaker for CSKA Moscow and Finland, and another brother, Alexei, played for, among others, Kilmarnock, Rubin Kazan and Lecce. Their father, Alexei Eremenko Sr, was a top-flight footballer who moved from Russia to Finland in the 90s. After his career had finished he was the manager of the Finnish side Jaro and gave his youngest son a debut at the age of 15. By 2015 Sergei was an integral part of the senior squad, playing 16 league games and scoring three goals in all competitions, although he was unable to stop Jaro from being relegated. He played a further 11 times in 2016 in the second division, showing great vision and technical skill before joining Basel in August, starting out in the Swiss side's under-18 team. "Sergei is wise way beyond his age," Alexei Sr says, and he is not wrong. If he progresses as expected, Sergei can choose between representing Finland or Russia at senior level (he has represented Finland at Under-17 and Under-18 level).

 

young talents 2016 - Dujon Henriques Sterling.

Dujon Henriques Sterling

Club: Chelsea FC
 
Position:  Defender
 
Born:  24 October 1999




 Sterling does not turn 17 until late October but has already claimed two Uefa Youth League titles and an FA Youth Cup in Chelsea's junior ranks, has featured regularly in the club's under-23 development side and has represented England at under-19 level. The north Londoner graduated through Chelsea's development centre programme and is nominally a right-back, but his versatility is demonstrated by the fact he has featured at centre-half, midfield, right wing and centre-forward in 2016 alone, scoring in the FA Youth Cup final in May. The first-year scholar is athletic and technically proficient. In a world where image can seem like everything, Sterling is perhaps unusual in that he does not, as yet, have any social media accounts. 

young talents 2016, Reiss Nelson.

Reiss Nelson

Club: Arsenal FC
 
Position: Attacking midfielder
 
Born: 10 December 1999





 The stand-out prospect in his age group at the club, there is a show-stopping quality to Nelson's game in terms of his tricks – which are the sort that generate clicks and traction. Even when he is quiet in a match, he has the ability to make something happen out of seemingly nothing. But Nelson, who can play off either wing or in a central role behind the striker, wants to be known for more than his flair moves. He tracks back diligently, is a team player and has end product. He can provide as well as score goals. He has featured for Arsenal's under-21s and under-23s and is established in the England Under-18s 

 

young talents 2016, Jens Odgaard.

Jens Odgaard

Club: Lyngby Boldklub
 
Position: Forward
 
Born: 13 March 1999


 Being compared to Marco van Basten may not necessarily be a good thing for a player Odgaard's age, but that is nevertheless the player he reminds everyone of. Odgaard is a natural striker with a very dangerous left foot. He is physically strong, has good technique and his positional sense is superb; he has that striker's knack of being in the right place at the right time when the ball falls. He scored on his senior debut for Lyngby but is not a regular yet and ended with three substitute appearances in his first season. “Jens is a huge talent on both the Danish and European scene,” says his coach, David Nielsen. "He’s got everything a footballer needs to be a top player. He doesn't care who the opponent is, he is just himself on the pitch and very strong mentally." Although tall – 1.88m – his heading ability could still improve and he is, at the moment, a bit too one-footed. 

young talents 2016, Christian Frydek.

Christian Frydek

Club: Sparta Prague
 
Position: Attacking midfielder
 
Born: 1 February 1999





The Frydek family is certainly doing something right. Martin Frydek Sr has his Euro 96 silver medal in a drawer at home while Martin Jr would have gone to Euro 2016 with the Czech Republic had he not suffered an injury before the tournament. Now the attention turns to Christian, seven years younger than Martin Jr, as he prepares to make the step up to Sparta Prague's first team. He is a hard-working midfielder but also – just like his father – a very skilful player, a creative playmaker with a great football brain who can come up with the unexpected in every situation. “He has to work on his strength, though,” says Frydek Sr. “And I would like him to impose himself on games more. There are passages when you don’t notice him on the pitch.” Recently Frydek has been receiving some great advice in training. “He got called up to train with the first team last week and every day when he came home, all I heard was Rosicky this and Rosicky that,” says his father. When the former Arsenal playmaker retires, Sparta may well already have a successor in their ranks. 

young talents 2016, Juan Camilo Hernández.

Juan Camilo Hernández

Club: Deportivo Pereira.
 
Position: Attacking midfielder.
 
Born: 22 April 1999.


A year ago, Juan Camilo Hernández was wondering whether to give up on football all together. A draw against Leones had cost his side Pereira promotion, a dream had just gone up in smoke and the pressure to study was beginning to pinch. “I considered quitting that night, but I’m mightily glad I didn’t,” chuckles Hernández. Twelve months on and things look very different. Pereira are romping the second division and Hernández is the league’s top scorer having got 16 goals by mid-September. The youngest player to start a game for Pereira, aged 15, and the club’s youngest scorer, he was given the captaincy on a permanent basis this season; he’d just turned 17. Quick, cunning and with terrific vision, Hernández has so far packed a lot into his fledging professional career. Pereira won’t get to enjoy his talents much longer, though; Europe most surely beckons.

young talents 2016, Shan Huanhuan,

Shan Huanhuan

Club: Beijing Guoan
 
Position: Forward
 
Born: 24 January 1999



This season he became the first player born in 1999 to play in the Chinese Super League. The debut came courtesy of Alberto Zaccheroni, a coach who knows a thing or two about good attackers. “He wouldn't be playing if he wasn't good enough and he has a very bright future,” said the Italian. Shan is powerful, good in the air and is not afraid to shoot. One problem is that given the influx of expensive and talented strikers into China he may not get much playing time but he has already scored for China's Under-19 team. 

young talents 2016, David Salazar.

David Salazar

Club: O'Higgins
 
Position: Attacking midfielder/forward
 
Born: 19 April 1999




Without putting too much pressure on Salazar, it is fair to say that his playing characteristics are very similar to that of Alexis Sánchez – Chile's greatest star. Salazar can play as an attacking midfielder in a variety of positions, centrally or on the wing, or up front. He has impressed in international under-17 tournaments for O'Higgins and has been promoted to the first team, where he is mainly on the bench but is a good option for the end of the games, especially if his side are losing. At the age of 15 he was part of Chile's Under-17 squad for the South American championship but did not make the World Cup squad. 

 

young talents 2016, Vladislav Zhikov.

Vladislav Zhikov

Club: A.C. Milan
 
Position: Midfielder
 
Born: 18 January 1999



Enjoyed a rapid rise to prominence after Milan’s coach, Vincenzo Montella, invited him to train with the first team and included him in the preliminary squad for September's Bournemouth friendly. The talented Bulgarian midfielder first grabbed the headlines last year when he scored against Arsenal in the prestigious Al Kass youth tournament in Qatar. Zhikov has lived in Italy since he was four, when his parents moved to Naples. There he took his first football steps along with Milan’s prodigious goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. The Bulgaria Under-17 player can also operate in central defence because of his height and physique. 

young talents 2016, Nicolas Reis Bernardo.

Nicolas Reis Bernardo

Club: Santos


Position: Forward
 
Born: 4 July 1999



They must be doing something right at Vila Belmiro, which has produced Pelé, Robinho, Neymar and Gabriel Barbosa to name just a few of the world-class players who have progressed from Santos's academy. And the talents just keep coming. The latest one is Nicolas Reis Bernardo, who has already been compared to Robinho. “Nicolas is a typical Santos boy," said Robinho, who has helped the youngster. "Irreverent, humble and happy. He will have an amazing future. I trust a lot in him." Nicolas even looks like Robinho and is aiming to reach the same heights as the former Santos, Real Madrid and Manchester City player. 

young talents 2016, Fabrício Oya.

Fabrício Oya

Club:  Corinthians
 
Position:  Midfielder
 
Born:  23 July 1999



Fabrício Oya has everything as a player but what stands out is his shooting – and his free-kicks in particular. “It’s something incredible – his accuracy is excellent,” says Osmar Loss, the Corinthians under-20 coach who is an expert on young talent coming through in Brazil. His first aim is to join up with the first team at Corinthians and then move to Europe. Liverpool and Manchester United have made enquiries but he is not keen to move just yet.

 

young talents 2016, Luiz Fernando

Luiz Fernando.

 

Club: Figueirense.


Position: Forward.
 
Born: 11 July 1999.





Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Neymar are three of many Brazilian superstars who started out playing futsal – and Luiz Fernando has followed a similar path. He played futsal for five years before moving to football and is considered to be one of the best talents in the country in his age group. He is showing the characteristics you would expect from a futsal player – speed of thought and quick feet – and can play down the middle or on the left. He is being scouted heavily by European clubs and could leave the country before his proper breakthrough, just as Roberto Firmino did when he moved from Figueirense to Hoffenheim.

young talents 2016, Nedim Hadzic.

Nedim Hadzic.

Bosnia & Herzegovina.

Club FK: Sarajevo.
 
Position: Striker.
 
Born: 19 March 1999.






When Vincent Tan took over FK Sarajevo, one of the first things he did was to improve facilities at the club’s academy. Now attracting youngsters from all over the country, it has Hadzic, dubbed the “Bosnian Luis Suárez”, as its premier product. Unlike his team-mate Demirel “the Bosnian Luka Modric” Veladzic, who is two months younger, Hadzic is yet to make a senior debut, but last season he scored an incredible 57 goals for Sarajevo’s and Bosnia’s under-17 sides. So presumably the nickname refers to his scoring rate, not to any on-pitch antics. 

young talents 2016, Indy Boonen.

Indy Boonen.

 

Club: Manchester United
 
Position: Attacking midfielder
 
Born: 4 January 1999

 

Indy Boonen, who came through the youth ranks of Genk, joined Manchester United in 2015 after a successful trial. He is a creative, attacking midfielder with quick feet and excellent dribbling skills. His father, Jacky, was a professional footballer in Belgium but has admitted that his son is a bigger talent. Boonen needed a little time to settle at United but has scored on a regular basis for the under-18s, creating a successful relationship with Angel Gomes, another huge talent at the club. Boonen is a neat finisher and dreams of following in the footsteps of Marcus Rashford and joining up with the first team as soon as possible.

young talents 2016, Thibaud Verlinden.

Thibaud Verlinden.


Club: Stoke City

Position: Winger 

Born: 9 July 1999

Thibaud is the son of the legendary Club Brugge goalkeeper Dany Verlinden but plays much further up the field than his father did. Verlinden Jr is a skilful winger whose style has often been compared to that of Eden Hazard (who is also a role model for the youngster). Came through the youth ranks at Standard before Stoke City signed him after he had turned 16. Interestingly, Liverpool had tried to sign him a few months earlier – but were turned down by Standard – and when it came to it he chose Stoke ahead of Liverpool, Chelsea and Everton. Verlinden often trains with Stoke’s first team and was in the squad for the EFL Cup game against Hull City in September 2016. 

 

 

young talents 2016, Mile Svilar,

Mile Svilar.

Club: Anderlecht.
 
Position: Goalkeeper.
 
Born 27 August 1999.


Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal were all – according to the player's father, the former Antwerp goalkeeper Ratko Svilar – interested in signing Svilar Jr but he decided to stay at Anderlecht, believing he would benefit from developing in his home country. He also thought he may get his chance sooner in the Belgian league than in the Premier League. Svilar is a tall, agile and confident goalkeeper. He has good reflexes and a good touch too. He has not made his debut for Anderlecht yet but is considered to be the third-choice goalkeeper at the club. He will have to wait patiently for his turn as he has Belgium's Under-21 goalkeeper Davy Roef and Frank Boeckx ahead of him. 

 

young talents 2016 - Valentino Müller.

Valentino Müller.

Club: Altach.

Position: Defensive midfielder.

Born: 19 January 1999.

 

Austria has not been a convincing conveyor belt of talent in the past decade, struggling to produce high quality strikers, goalkeepers and playmakers. However, the country has been able to deliver some promising defensive midfielders. And, with Julian Baumgartlinger appointed as the new captain of the national team, younger players are increasingly attracted to a position which they see can bring significant reward. Foremost of those is the 17-year-old Valentino Müller, who is at the Austrian Bundesliga team Altach. "Despite his young age, he is a very complete player," says the Altach manager, Georg Zellhofer. Müller knows how to read the game, is a good passer and has great technique. He has turned down offers from bigger clubs abroad such as Bayern and Inter in order to take his game and career to the next level in a safe environment. 

 

 

young talents 2016,Sebastian Pasquali.

Sebastian Pasquali.
  
Club: Melbourne Victory. 

Position Midfielder. 

Born 7 November 1999.

 

 

Not many players can claim to have scored against Juventus on their senior debut at the age of 16, but then Sebastian Pasquali is not your average teenager. Tipped by Peter de Roo, the technical director at Football Federation Australia’s centre of excellence, as the most likely of Australia’s latest crop of talent to rise to prominence, the kid from country Victoria burst into public consciousness with a standout performance in the International Champions Cup in July. Coming off the bench, his assured display in the centre of the park – not to mention his coolly taken penalty in the shootout – may have belied his youth but would not have come as a surprise to those who have been monitoring his recent progress. “He has a great attitude and he’s a good decision maker with a good technique,” De Roos said. Victory may be on to a winner.

 

 

 

young talents 2016 Maximiliano Romero

Maximiliano Romero.

Club: Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield.

Position: Forward.

Born 9 January 1999.

Prefers to play as a No9 but when his coach, Christian Bassedas, includes him alongside the centre-forward Mariano Pavone in the first division he plays a different role, adapting to the needs of the team and playing wider. He has a natural eye for goal, always looking for chances, and a real will to win: he never gives up a ball. He is good in the air, especially when arriving in the area near the penalty spot, and although he is right-footed he can finish with his left too. He is an opportunist, with good positional sense, but he can also take people on and beat them. Works hard for the team. 

 

 

 

young talents 2016, Ezequiel Barco

Ezequiel Barco.

Position: Attacking midfielder and forward.

 Born: 23 March 1999.

 

Skilful, right-footed attacking player, a dribbler who is always willing to take on his marker and break through defensive lines. The latest of the Argentinian potreros, Barco scores plenty of goals and has an excellent shot. His coach, Gabi Milito, is bringing him through slowly and carefully, without hurrying, but he has already become a fixture in the squad and regularly gets minutes, whether as a starter or a second-half substitute.

 

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