The future of football: 5 youngsters who resemble current stars in the game
They came, they saw and they conquered. We associate them with success, greatness and fame that takes them to the very top bracket of the best in the game. They are the stars of the game – those who have won trophies and dazzled millions of fans worldwide with their feats on the pitch. They are those players who're looked up to and copied by countless youth players, training to be professionals in every nook and corner of the world. They are the class – the cream of their respective playing positions, and their brilliance and style of play is unique and distinctive. These are the stars of football, idolized by fans and aspiring players alike.
The cream of young footballing talent, which is ready to take over from the current crop of stars and stalwarts in the not-too-distant future, consists of a fair few players who seem to possess the skillset and flair and play in a manner that instantly reminds avid football fans of today’s best players. The youngster may not necessarily play in the same position or role as the star he is being compared to, but his style, and in a few cases even his physique and appearance is reminiscent of the latter. Let’s take a look at 5 players aged 23 or below who remind us of stars from the past decade.
#1 Marco Verratti and Xavi
Xavi has been the preeminent midfield maestro of the star-studded Barcelona and Spanish National team midfields: a fact, which in itself, should indicate his immense ability and talent.
Marco Verratti is steadily gaining in reputation as a deep-lying playmaker with the work rate and lungs that are required of every top midfielder. Verratti has broken into the Italian national team, beating off competition from the likes of Claudio Marchisio to establish himself as a regular feature of Conte’s first-choice starting XI.
Marco exudes the same grace as Xavi on the ball. In terms of ability to control the tempo of the game from midfield, he truly is second to none: in fact, he averaged a 93.7% pass completion percentage in the Champions League last season, figures that stand alongside Xavi’s own at his very peak.
Although Verratti plays in a deeper role than Xavi, his ability in tight spaces, eye for a pass and general cool and calm presence are reminiscent of the latter. A worthy successor to one of the legendary midfielders of the game.