Age 18 (09.06.00),
Real Betis (Spa)
& Mexico
Diminutive left-footer
who is described in his
homeland as a Latino
answer to Lionel Messi,
he can play as a left-
winger, second striker or
number 10. Signed from
Club America for €14 m
in the transfer window
after winning his first full
cap against Uruguay.TALENT SCOUT
Age 20 (26.01.99),
defender, Borussia
Dortmund (Ger) &
Argentina
The under-20
international centre-
back left Boca Juniors
in the transfer window
for €15m, making
him the fifth-most
expensive sale in the
Argentinian club’s
history, behind Walter
Samuel, Fernando
Gago, Ever Banega
and Carlos Tevez.
Age 23 (26.07.95),
midfielder, Mainz
(Ger) & Cameroon
The robust central
midfielder makes his
presence felt with his
dynamic and tireless
pressing. Is in his first
Bundesliga campaign
following a move from
Atletico Madrid, having
previously played for
Madrid lower-league
outfit Alcobendas,
Atletico B, Extremadura
and Granada.Age 16 (12.04.02),
midfielder, Monaco
(Fra) & Spain
Highly promising
under-16 international
who recently became
the youngest player
in Monaco’s history.
He was lured away
from Barcelona by
the Ligue 1 side in
the summer following
a contractual impasse.
Age 20 (22.07.98),
midfielder, Real
Madrid (Spa) &
Uruguay
Tactically aware, he is
elegant and enterprising
and looked the part
in a string of substitute
appearances this
term before making
his starting debut in
January in a 2-1 win
at Real Betis.Age 19 (10.06.99), Lille (Fra)
& Portugal
Many thought it was a mistake last
summer for Lille presidential advisor
Luis Campos to dub the teenager “the
Portuguese Mbappe”, but he has lived
up to the billing and is used to hype.
When he was starting out with Sporting
in Lisbon, one of his coaches, Tiago
Fernandes, claimed that he was even
more talented than Cristiano Ronaldo
at a similar age, saying: “Rafael is the
best player in the history of the Sporting
academy.”Age 20 (07.05.98), winger, Dinamo
Zagreb (Cro) & Spain
One of many Barcelona academy
fledglings to have swapped La Masia for
a diet of first-team football elsewhere, he
quit the Catalan capital in July 2014 and
has carved out a niche for himself in
Croatia. Now a member of Spain’s
under-21 squad, he could be in line for a
big-money move this summer. Barca are
thought to want him back, their interest
being accentuated by the clutch of big
clubs homing in on him.Age 21 (12.01.98),
winger, Twente (Hol)
& Norway
The Norwegian-born
son of Moroccan
parents has been a big
success with the Dutch
second-tier high flyers.
His future at Twente,
however, is uncertain as
he is only on loan and
parent club Fiorentina
may be open to a
permanent departure
for the Norway
under-21 international.