The Best Young Footballers in the World (that may have passed under your radar)

In the modern world it is nigh on impossible to keep a football talent under wraps. Anyone who shows an ounce of talent has their own highlights reel slapped on youtube quicker then you can type their name into google. Age is no barrier either now. Frequently clips of a 9 year-old super talent hit the net and cause a sensation, until the next clip of someone even younger comes along. It can’t be too long until we see ultrasound footage of a foetus with an exceptional kicking technique.

So we all know about the best up-and-coming talents in the world. The debuts of the likes of Bojan Krkic, the Da Silva twins and Alexander Pato were anxiously anticipated by the football world.

Yet there are always players just as good that do not receive the same fanfare. You have probably already seen them play but did not watch them as closely as the big name youngsters. They do not immediately spring to mind when you think of the best talents in football today and therefore we are yet to appreciate their talent. So for you I have put together a team of the best young footballers from Europe.

PS - These are players that I have actually seen play, not just on youtube or heard of via Tim Vickery, so no Douglas Costa’s here.

Joe HartJoe Hart (22) – Goalkeeper, Man City/Birmingham

England were once famous for producing quality goalkeepers such as Gordon Banks, Peter ShiltonPeter Shilton, Ray Clemence and David Seaman. Yet ever since Arsenal signed Richard WrightRichard Wright English football has been awaiting another ’keeper of true ability. They obviously haven’t found one as David JamesDavid James is still England number 1.

Hart could be the one despite Man City deciding he is not yet ready to be part of their revolution, it was more to do with his lack of experience rather than his performances. Composed, comfortable and consistent he is yet to have a shocker. His ability will be tested to its fullest as the ’keeper for newly promoted Birmingham where he is on loan from next season.

Davide Santon (18) – Defender, Inter Milan

Santon did such a good job against Man Utd on his first start in the Champions League even Cristiano RonaldoRonaldo, who he was up against directly, commented on his performance. As of then he has made the left back position his own at Inter and has impressed enough to get himself called up to the Italy national squad for the Confederations Cup.

Marcello LippiMarcello Lippi has compared him to Paolo MaldiniPaolo Maldini and he does possess many similarities; good reading of the game, assured on the ball and he is even a right footed left-back. Under the guidance of defensive mastermind Jose MourinhoJose Mourinho he has the best possible chance of becoming another great Italian defender.

Jerome Boateng (20) – Defender, Hamburg

It was during Hamburg’s run in the UEFA Cup last season that the younger brother of Tottenham’s Kevin-Prince first received international acclaim. Former Hamburg manager Martin JolMartin Jol is never one afraid to blood youngsters and made Boateng his first choice centre-back.

At 6ft 3’ Boateng possesses all the physical attributes you would want from your modern defender, including pace for such a big man. On top of this he has shown in the current under-21’s tournament he is not afraid to get on the ball and start play from the back. For a central defender he is getting excellent experience from a young age and is tipped to break into the full German squad from next season.

Gerard Pique (22) – Defender, Barcelona

Ok you all know about him but he is in here because perhaps you do not appreciate how good he is.

Having learnt the art of defending from the hard-knock school that is English football Gerard Pique has no problem dealing with the dirty side of defending (winning headers, blocking shots etc). Also watching the best defensive partnership in the world in Ferdinand and Vidic will have aided him no end and it seems evident in his first season back at Barcelona.

He has fitted in so well that he is now their first choice centre-back, even being picked ahead of club captain Carlos Puyol on occasions. The Barcelona fans call him ‘Beckenbauer’ because of his ability to control the tempo of a game from defence. Pique is a nailed on future captain of Barcelona and will be at the heart of their defence for the rest of his career.

Sergio Busquets (20) – Midfielder, Barcelona

Another one that you have all seen progress beyond expectation, playing a central role in Barcelona’s historic treble season.

He is your typical Spanish midfielder; great passer, excellent reader of the game and good feet. What makes him stand out from other promising Spanish midfielders though? He is 6ft 2’ and broad with it. He has the type of power that the likes of Xavi and Fabregas would die for. When teams resort to getting physical against Barcelona to counter their passing game Busquets will be the one leading the counter-offence.

Busquests has Barcelona in his blood and along with Pique will form the Catalonian spine of the team for years to come.

Ismaïl Aissati (20) – Midfielder, Ajax

Aissati was the star player of the 2006 European Under-21 Tournament in the winning Holland team, even though at just 17 he was one of the youngest in the tournament. A lot was expected in the following seasons but frankly Aissati failed to deliver.

Sporadic bursts of his talent were not enough to convince PSV to keep hold of him but their loss is Ajax’s gain.

A playmaker in the truest sense of the word Aissati is a player who needs the team to be based around his vision and skill. Under Martin Jol at Ajax he will be given the chance to fulfil his potential.

Sebastian Giovinco (22) – Midfielder, Juventus

The diminutive (just 5ft 4’) Giovinco is not your typical Italian playmaker. While the likes of Francesco TottiFrancesco Totti and Alessandro Del Piero rely mainly on their quick thinking and vision Giovinco has the type of skill and acceleration that you would normally associate with a South American. He is also a dead-ball expert so maybe he had a Brazilian milkman.

At 22 he is still not yet a permanent fixture in the Juventus first team, with Del Piero owning the spot just behind the striker. He may yet be turned into a winger and with the acquisition of Diego he may even be sent out on loan for another season to develop his game. Yet he is a certain star for the future and heir to Del Piero’s thrown at Juventus.

Jack Wilshere (17) – Midfielder, Arsenal

If Giovinco is not your typial Italian playmaker, Jack Wilshere is a certified alien when compared to other English midfielders.

Simply the British game produces midfielders like this once a generation; Glen Hoddle, Paul GascoignePaul Gascoigne, Paul ScholesPaul Scholes and now Jack Wilshere. Unlike your dynamic Bryan Robson/Steven Gerrard style centre-mids they are more European, dictating play with short simple passes and placing more emphasis on technique then aggression. Add the fact that Wilshere is left-footed and it may be more believable that he is from Mars rather than Britain.

His style has already been compared to Cesc Fabregas but his sweet left-foot could see him end up playing on the left-wing.

Wilshere has accelerated through the Arsenal youth-teams, starring at each-level until he forced his way into the first team squad and it is only a matter of time before he breaks in there too.

Mario Balotelli (18) – Striker, Inter Milan

It may not be politically correct but it seems that Mario Balotelli is the perfect blend of African athleticism (he is of Ghanian heritage) and European technique (having grown up in Italy).

His physique was such that he was playing upfront at aged 15 for Lumezzane, which was where Inter discovered him. Since then he has improved his game superbly to the point where his club record at Inter is one goal every three games.

Tall, very strong and quick Balotelli is also blessed with a rapier of a right-foot. Excellent at set-pieces and good in the air it seems the only thing that could hold him back is himself, having fallen out with Jose Mourinho because of an alleged lack of effort in training. Inter President Massimo Moratti is a big fan however so he will remain at the club where he is certain to be a key part to their future.

Frederico Macheda (17) – Striker, Manchester United

Again you all know about him but after such a debut it is easy to dismiss the young Italian as a flash in the pan.

Yet let’s get it straight, the type of goal he scored on his debut is no fluke. Only players with not only a certain amount of ability, but also an audacity can pull something like that off. It is this ability to do the unexpected in the box that marks him out as a special talent. In his few appearances he has proved he has excellent positioning in the box and is happy to receive the ball under pressure with his back to goal, holding up play.

Under the master at bringing through young players Kiko Macheda is already fast maturing into a striker of true quality.

Yannis Tafer (18) – Striker, Lyon

Tafer has only played three times for Lyon and as impressive as they were it is his performances at Under-18 level for France that have been truly remarkable.

Just recently against England Tafer looked far better than anyone else on the pitch, scoring a hat-trick in the process, each goal showing a different talent.

His first showed pace and timing of a run to beat an offside trap and cool finishing. His second was an excellent piece of close control, playing a 1-2 on the edge of the box before calmly toe-poking home. The third was a left-footed volley which he watched all the way before slamming home.

The light-footed striker does not have the physique to match his club mate Benzema so may take slightly longer to make the grade but will eventually get the chance to show his worth.