World Soccer - UK (2020-02)

ANGEL

GETAFE

Despite frequently being used as an

impact sub, the centre-forward has

proved deadly in both domestic and

continental competition. Has the time

come for coach Jose Bordalas to unleash

him more often?

MAXIMILIAN ARNOLD

WOLFSBURG

Cultured playmaker with an infuriating

capacity to blow hot and cold. On his

day, though, he can be sensational. A

graduate of the Wolfsburg academy, he

was the club’s youngest-ever debutant in

2011, at 17 years, 5 months and 30 days.

ENZO CRIVELLI

ISTANBUL BB

Former French under-21 striker who hit

the winner in his side’s shock 2-1 win at

Borussia Monchengladbach. Moved to

Turkey last summer from Caen and now

Marseille are said to be interested.

CIPRIAN DEAC

CFR CLUJ

Always capable of popping up with a

goal or an assist, he is now in his third

spell with Cluj.

UROS MATIC

APOEL

A tough-tackling central midfielder who

is more creative than he is given credit

for. The Serb is the younger brother of

Manchester United’s Nemanja Matic.

OSCAR MELENDO

ESPANYOL

Winger whose trickery, elusiveness and

final-ball delivery make him a fine

prospect. Now 22, he has been with

Espanyol since the age of six.

ALFREDO MORELOS

RANGERS

The Colombian has scored an amazing

14 goals in the qualification and group

phase. Physically imposing, but often

too hot-headed for his own good.

CLAUDIU KESERU

LUDOGORETS

At 33 the Romanian front man remains

as sharp as ever in the box. Struck a hat-

trick in a 5-1 Europa League victory over

CSKA Moscow in September.

LUCAS TORREIRA

ARSENAL

New Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is only

too aware of his side’s need for back-line

protection – which means an automatic

starting spot for the Uruguayan midfield

enforcer. Arteta’s predecessor Unai

Emery made a grave error by insisting

on using the ex-Sampdoria man higher

up the pitch.

ZECA

COPENHAGEN

Influential club captain and source

of tactical appreciation. An all-round

steadier of the ship, the one-time

Portugal under-21 adopted Greek

citizenship early in 2017 and went

on to play for Greece’s national team.

GALENO

BRAGA

The Brazilian left-winger is Braga’s assist

king in Europe, setting up no fewer than

six goals in the group stage. Once on

Porto’s books, he can be a little raw

and naive, but he is tough to stop.

in such a big game, not hesitating to
throw him into the fray in the final nerve-
jangling minutes at the Parc des Princes.
Comfortable anywhere along the front
line, the England under-21 international
is a top-to-toe football natural, one of
those rare prodigies for whom the game
is pure child’s play. And indeed it was,
first appearing on his club’s radar as a
six-year-old at a United development
school in Halifax, West Yorkshire. On-site
coaches simply could not believe how
good and how advanced he was, already
perfectly two-footed, speedy over the
ground, and so willing and quick to learn.
A dozen years and many, many goals
later, he now stands on the brink of
a glittering career.
The 231st United academy graduate
to make the club’s first team has every
chance of being one of the best.

Hat-trick...

Claudiu Keseru

Unleashed...Angel

Capable...Ciprian Deac