Valladolid
Signed from the African
Talent Football Academy in
Ghana for a mere €50,000
two years ago, the central
defender was promoted to
the first team this summer
and has settled effortlessly
into top-flight life, especially
unyielding in draws with Real
Madrid and Atletico Madrid.TALENT SCOUT
Mallorca
The Japanese playmaker or
winger proved an instant hit
this summer on joining Real
Madrid from Tokyo and in
pre-season was often his
new side’s most impressive
performer. He is now on a
single-season loan deal at
Mallorca, forced into exile
by Real’s excess of non-EU
players. Once in Barcelona’s
academy but lost his place
when the Camp Nou club
violated FIFA’s international
transfer rules.
Nimes
After losing many of
their best players in
the summer, the Nimois
needed new heroes
to step up – and the
Togolese front man did
just that, particularly
with his supersub
scoring exploits. Against
Monaco in August he
netted just 60 seconds
after coming on and the
following week, versus
Brest, he was even
quicker to strike.Schalke
The central midfielder
recently marked his
debut with a goal in
the DFB Cup against
SV Drochtersen/Assel.
Energetic and extremely
self-assured, he has
come a long way since
Bochum released him
seven years ago, telling
him he was too small
and slight of build.
Verona
Italy-born Albanian
international centre-
back who is enjoying a
fine rookie campaign in
Serie A. Verona coach
Ivan Juric stunned many
when choosing to pick
the 19-year-old in the
opening game of the
season against Bologna,
but the naysayers are
now firm disciples.Ajax
In his first season as a starter,
the right-back has made light
work of the transition from
reserve team to Champions
League. Attack-conscious,
technically good and totally
without fear, he has already
played twice for the senior USA
side in friendlies – through his
American father – but the
Holland-born teenager has
also held talks with the Dutch
federation.Porto
An instrumental figure in Porto’s
triumph in last season’s UEFA
Youth League, the Portuguese
under-21 normally plays on
the right side of midfield for his
club but can operate anywhere,
with experience as an engine-
room enforcer, second striker or
classic number 10. He appears
to have all the bases covered:
quick, skilful, athletic, strong in
the air and tenacious.Anderlecht
One of the few positive
notes in Anderlecht’s
disastrous start to the
season under new
coach Vincent Kompany.
Brought up in the club’s
youth ranks as a central
defender, he has been
learning on the job this
term, carving out a
niche for himself at
right-back in the first
team. The son of an
Italian father and
Congolese mother.