World Soccer Presents - The Prem Era #2 (2022)

THE PREM ERA 73

After goals galore in schoolboy and junior
football – 250 in150 games for Lierse,
FC Brussels and then Anderlecht, who he
joined at the age of13 –16-year-old striker
Romelu Lukaku made his first-team debut
in May as a substitute in the Belgian league
title play-off with Standard Liege.
This campaign he has not lost any
momentum, becoming increasingly central
to coach ArielJacobs’ plans and scoring his
first senior goal in a 2-0 win at Zulte
Waregem.
Lukaku – whose father, Roger, played
up front for DR Congo and Belgian clubs
Seraing, Germinal Ekeren and Mechelen

• has all the raw materials to fulfil his vast
  potential. Quick and powerful, he shields
  the ball well, is a born predator and has
  a kick like a mule in both feet.
  Despite his club and Belgium youth
  and Under-21 commitments, he continues
  to study diligently at high school, where he
  hopes to stay for another two years at least.
  It says much for his character and sense of
  loyalty that he has turned down a number
  of lucrative offers from major European
  clubs, preferring to sign his first pro
  contract with Anderlecht.
  Nick Bidwell

Romelu Lukaku

Talent Scout, October 2009

Showered with praise for his outstanding

performances in 2007 with Spain Under-17s

• a period in which they won the European
  title as well as finishing second in the world
  championship – and a role in Atletico
  Madrid’s Europa League triumph last season,
  goalkeeper De Gea is not the sort to be
  blown off-course by the high winds of hype.
  De Gea graduated to the Atletico first
  team in September 2009, when he was
  handed his chance as a substitute in a
  Champions League defeat in Porto.
  Although he conceded two late goals,
  nothing could detract from an exceptional
  display and a good hour of spectacular
  stops, decisive cross collecting and rare
  serenity. Three days later in his first Liga
  start, he was excellent again, saving a
  penalty in a 2-1 win over Real Zaragoza.
  Sergio Asenjo’s position as Atletico’s first
  choice soon came under threat and, after
  a number of costly errors, he was replaced
  by De Gea. The youngster subsequently

David de Gea

Talent Scout, September 2010

CChristian Eriksen

Talent Scout, May 2010

PLAYERS: HEARD HERE FIRST

cemented his place in the hierarchy with a

string of man-of-the-match displays and by

playingamajorpartintheclub’svictoryin

Europe – eight games, including the 2-1

win against Fulham in the final, and just

eight goals conceded.

Nick Bidwell