U20 XI to watch out for this season

Last season saw the emergence of some exciting youngsters in football world with the likes of Ansu Fati, Mason Greenwood, Alphonso Davies, Erling Haaland, Reece James, Phil Foden, Vinicius Junior among others making names for themselves.

But in truth, there are other players who deserve the spotlight as well and will have the privilege to show the world how talented they are this season.

We take a look at a starting XI highlighting some of these players, their attributes and what they offer in their various position in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Marco Carnesecchi

Club/ Country: (Atalanta/ Italy)

Age: 19yrs 

Position: Goalkeeper

Marco Carnesecchi is the only goalkeeper nominated for the golden boy award. His talent, reflexes and his speed to cover his box is what makes top clubs like Leeds and Arsenal battle for his signature.

Marco Carnesecchi joined Atalanta at a very young age and spent last season on loan in the Serie B with Tripani.

Potential: 9/10

Similarity: Gianluigi Donarumma

Serginho Dest 

Club/ Country: (Ajax/ USA)

Age: 19yrs

Position: Right back.

Serginho Dest is an intelligent player for his young age, calm and gives what you expect from most full back these days, makes the runs inside the opponent box, an excellent crosser of the ball, amazing pace and a very good dribbler.

Soughted after by Barcelona and Bayern Munich and given he is the preferred starter for Ajax and the USA team, he is a very capable choice for any top club looking for a right back.

Potential: 7/10

Similarity: Kyle Walker

Ozan Kabak

Club/ Country: (Schalke 04/ Turkey)

Age: 20yrs

Position: Centre Back

Ozan Kabak is a young centre back that plays for Schalke 04 in the Bundeliga. Ozan started his journey as a footballer when he emerged from Galatasaray academy before moving to Germany in 2019 to join Stuttgart and at the end of the Season, Schalke snap him up permanently.

An intelligent defender, quite good with the ball at his feet and very good with aerial challenge. He also won the Bundeliga rookie of the season in the 2018/2019 season despite joining in January.

Potential: 10/10

Similarity: Thiago Silva

Boubacar Kamara 

Club/ Country: (Olympique Marseille / France)

Age: 20yrs

Position: Centre Back

Boubacar Kamara is an exciting young player that can play as a central defender and a defensive midfielder. Already cemented his spot as Marseille first choice centre back, instrumental in the team success as runners up in French League 1 last seaaon and already took it up where he left last season, picking up the Man Of The Match award in his club's encounter against arch rival PSG - Paris Saint German.

Potential: 8/10

Similarity: Marquinhos

Owen Wijndal

Club/ Country: (AZ Alkmaar/ Netherland)

Age: 20yrs 

Position: Left back

A left back with all potential to reach heights, yet from another Dutch club AZ Alkamaar, who are stacked up with talent. Owen Wijndal finally made the breakthrough last term and become AZ starter at left back since joining the Club at the age of 10. A complete left back with all requirement to make it big.

Sandro Tonali:

Club/ Country: Italy/AC Milan

Age: 20yrs

Position/ Central Midfielder/ Defensive Midfielder

Watching this guy play football reminds one so much of young and prime Sergio Busquets, does everything so rightly and effortlesssly on the ball.

Tonali started his career with Brescia Calcio in the Serie B at age 17 and helped the club gained promotion to serie A in the 2018/2019 season, at age 18, he already established himself as a starter for the club.

Notbaly noted for his Vision, Play making, composure, leadership skills and a good set piece master at such age.

A name on most European club radar but his decision to still remain in italy sees him move to AC Milan from Brescia on loan with an option to buy for €35M.

Potential: 9/10

Similarity: Sergio Busquets

Eduardo Camavinga:

Club/Country: (Rennes/France)

Age: 17yrs

Position: Central Midfielder/ Defensive Midfielder

When you are soughted after by the likes of Real Madrid and PSG, it simply means you are good and at 17, Edouardo Camavinga is a football prodigy. 

A starter for Rennes who will be playing in the Champions League this season, just like Tonali, Camavinga is much more of an advanced player giving his dribbling ability.

H made his debut for France in the UEFA Nations League earlier this month becoming the youngest player to play for Les Blues since 1914.

Another player to keep an eye on in the Champions League this season.

Potential: 8/10

Similarity: Marco Veratti

Jude Bellingham

Club/Country: (England/Dortmund)

Age: 17yrs

Position: Attacking Midfielder/ Central Midfielder/ Left Winger

A delegate of Birmingham City right from 8years old but came into spotlight when Manchester United made him a summer target before he moves to Borussia Dortmund this summer.

Jude Bellingham is Birmingham's youngest goal scorer at the age of 16yrs and goes on to be a regular for the club, an advanced left winger/ Central midfielder his performance sees him being crown EFL young player of the season and Chmapionship apprentice of the year for the 2019-2020 season. Bellingham is so good Birmingham retires his 22 jersey number at age 17.

Already had a goal at Borussia Dortmund on his debut and his debut with the national side, England U21

Potential:8/10

Similarity: Phil Coutinho

Francisco Trincão

Club/ Country: (Barcelona / Portugal)

Age: 20yrs

Position: Right winger/ Attacking Midfielder

Despite the having a season to forget last term, Barcelona had in the 2019-2020 season the emergence of Ansu Fati and Riqui Puig gave the fans something to cheer about and now they can add Trincão to that dream.

Born and raised in portugal, Trincão went through the rank at Braga and was promoted to the first team age 18 in 2018.

A young pacy RW, skillful, eye for shot, surely a long term cover for the Messi role if he can stay fit and fulfill his potential.

Trincao also won the European U19 championship with portugal in 2018 finishing as the competition top scorer and earn his senior portuagal call up and debut in the last UEFA Nations League.

Potential: 9/10

Similarity: Angel Di Maria 

Dejan Kulusevski: 

Club/Country: (Juventus/ Sweeden)

Age: 20

Position: Left winger/ Attacking Midfielder

Easily the best of them all, Kulusevski was signed by Atalanta in 2016 for their youth team and rise through the ranking making his debut for the club in 2018, competition at the club's in attack saw him shipped on loan to Parma for the 2019-2020 where he contributed to 18goals (10goals + 8assits) with only Kylian Mbappe, Jadon Sancho and Kai Havertz has more goal contribution than Kulusevski in Europe top five league last season in the U-21 category.

U-20 leaders in Key Passes in the Top five leagues:

First place Sweden Dejan Kulusevski - 40

Second place France Mounir Chouiar - 34

Third place Italy Sandro Tonali - 33

Third place Germany Kai Havertz - 33

 His performance caught Juventus eye and made them sign him for €35M. Cristiano Ronaldo on Kulusevski after Juve first pre-season of the season:

“I see enormous potential and talent in him. Today he was very good on the pitch. I enjoyed watching him. We will score many goals together.” 

At 20, Juventus have gotten thenself a Gem in Dejan Kulusevski.

Potential: 9/10

Similarity: Marco Reus

Myron Boadu

Club/ Country: (AZ Alkmaar/ Netherlands)

Age:19years

Position: Striker

A complete centre forward born in Amsterdam to Ghanian parents. Myron Boadu joined AZ Alkamaar youth ranks in 2013 and went through it all before establishing himself as a first team player in the 2018-2019 season.

The 2019-2020 season was his revelation season and is now one of the most soughted after youngsters right, after scoring a total of 14 goals and two assists in 24 games in the league and also scored six goals in the UEFA Europa League last season.

Potential: 8/10

Similarity: Anthony Martial

Ishaku Adams Victor