Five football wonderkids to watch out for who are younger than you
In an era of immense competition and intricate challenges, it has become extremely vital for the clubs and countries to invest in young and fresh talent. Bringing a whole new level of excitement, enthusiasm and diversity, these teenagers hold the potential and aptitude to become the glorious future stars of football.
Gone are the days when 21 was labelled as ‘young’. Clubs these days are spending big to sign 16 and 17-year-olds; Generally from youth academies, they are trained to play professional and commercial football, often training alongside the big names of the sport.
The mantra of ‘if you’re good enough, you’re old enough’ perfectly applies to the current scenario of European football. In an increasingly contemporary game like football, there have been many instances which prove that youth and talent can often outshine experience. Even the World Cup 2014 showcased a relatively young German side winning the cup.
A recent trend of ‘conserving and conditioning young talent for the future’ is becoming increasingly prevalent and fashionable.
Bayern Munich sign wonderkid Toni Trograncic
Trograncic is a 15-year-old German-born Red Bull Salzburg academy product. He trained with Bayern Munich's star-studded A-team last weekend. Born and raised in a small town near Munich, Trograncic is eligible to play for the World Cup winners, but speaks Croatian at home, his mother tongue. He even turned out for Croatia at youth level and has already made appearances for Croatia at U14 level.
Trograncic can play both as a central midfielder or behind the strikers. He was spotted during a U11 match, after being named the best player of the tournament at the academy. His first training session with Bayern saw a gathering of 200 spectators.
Bayern coach Pep Guardiola wants to ‘keep the young lad away from the limelight for the time being’, and rightly so – it's his discovery to relish and condition and Guardiola will make proper use of him when the time comes.
Youngest Player to Start in a Euro Qualifier – Martin Odegaard
Martin Odegaard is the latest Real Madrid sensation who has taken the world by storm. The 16-year-old was bought by the Spanish Giants for €4m from Stromsgodset, and the amount is likely to double if he meets certain clauses. In the recent Euro Qualifier, Odegaard played as the only striker in Norway's trip to Zagreb to face Croatia (where Norway lost 5-1) in which he became the youngest player ever to start a European Championship qualifier.
The 16 year old had the chance of training with Liverpool, Arsenal, and Munich before he finally settled for Real. Playing for Real Madrid’s reserve side Castilla, the youngster has shown brilliant technical ability.
Often seen training alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, Odegaard has proved that he is no less and belongs to the same pitch as other big Galacticos. The Norwegian has already made his mark for Castilla, scoring their opening goal during a 4-0 victory over Barakaldo.
Southampton boss Ronald Koeman is as keen on signing Odegaard on loan next season as Real are firm about keeping him.