World Soccer - UK (2022-05)

“Florian Wirtz is one of the greatest talents that German football

has produced in recent years...I’ve already phoned him and tried

to encourage him. He’s still young, he’ll come back just as strong”

Alejandro

GARNACHO

(Manchester United)

For March’s World Cup qualifiers against
Venezuela and Ecuador, Argentina named
aprovisional 4 4-man squad withseven
uncapped players aged18 or under.
The one thing that many of the young
talents have in common is the fact that
they are eligible for other nations.
Spanish-born Garnacho arrived at Old
Trafford from Atletico Madrid in 2020 and
has received attention for firing United’s
U18s to the FA Youth Cup final with five
goals, but he is yet to taste senior action.
Indeed, neither have Valentin and
Franco Carboni (Inter), Nico Paz (Real
Madrid) or Tiago Geralnik (Villarreal),
while Luka Romero (Lazio) and Matias
Soule (Juventus) only have a handful
of first-team games between them.
The Inter duo, plus Geralnik and Soule,
are eligible for Italy; Garnacho and Paz
were both born in Spain; while Romero
is also eligible for Mexico and Spain. The
Argentine federation will be hoping to
convince the youngsters to commit their
international futures toLa Albiceleste.

Germany coach Hansi Flick on the Bayer Leverkusen wonderkid, after he was ruled out for the season with a knee injury

Reyes CLEARY

(West Bromwich Albion)

The17-year-old forward is drawing

admiring glances from Bayern Munich

and Arsenal after scoring his 30th goal

of the season for West Brom’s youth team.

Charlie SETFORD

(Ajax)

The Dutch-born teenage goalkeeper,

who switched international allegiance to

England in 2019, has been making waves

at Ajax and featured on their bench in

the Champions League following some

impressive displays forJong Ajax.

Caleb WILEY

(Atlanta United)

The17-year-old defender, who’s been

playing for Atlanta’s reserve side since

the age of15, scored within15 minutes

of his senior MLS debut, netting the

clincher against Sporting Kansas City.

Carney CHUKWUEMEKA

(Aston Villa)

The England Under-19 captain has been

linked with a number of elite Premier

League clubs after talks over a new

contract at Villa Park broke down.

LUIZ HENRIQUE

(Fluminense)

Described in last month’s edition

ofWorld Soccerby Tim Vickery as

a “tall, well-built winger” that “poses

an attacking threat with his booming

left foot”, the 21-year-old will join La

Liga giants Real Betis this summer.

Maximo CARRIZO

(New York City FC)

Aged just14, Carrizo has broken

records as the youngest player

to sign a professional contract in

MLS having started training with

NYCFC’s first team in pre-season.

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