Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Ansu Fati, Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, Celtic, Football, Inter Milan, Sporting Lisbon, PSV
Marcus Chan
Topics: Ansu Fati, Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, Celtic, Football, Inter Milan, Sporting Lisbon, PSV
Back in 2019, French media outlet L’Equipe picked out six youngsters for their ‘The Wonders of European Football’ series.
The series was aimed to let fans get accustomed to some of European football’s rising stars who the publication thought will go on to do great things.
Back then, 16-year-old Celtic star Karamoko Dembele was one of six players involved.
Whilst talking about Dembele, L’Equipe wrote: “Vivid and agile, the British striker seems destined for a great career, although questions still escort him, especially about his choice of selection.”
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At the time, Dembele was attracting interest from the likes of Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus and Paris Saint Germain.
However, a big move never came and he only managed to make eight senior appearances for Celtic and in 2022, joined French side Brest. He's since moved to English football with League One outfit Blackpool.
Here are the other five players picked out by L’Equipe back in 2019.
Ansu Fati
Fati is perhaps the best out of the bunch as he continues to play for Barcelona, just like he did back in 2019.
Despite two serious injuries, the 20-year-old has so far played 109 times for the Catalan giants, scoring 29 goals. He's since moved to Brighton & Hove Albion on loan
Karim Adeyemi
Another pick who has gone on to play for one of the biggest clubs in world football.
Adeyemi started his senior career with Austrian side RB Salzburg and after impressing, was lured away by Borussia Dortmund ahead of the 22/23 season.
In his debut season with the club, Adeyemi managed a respectable nine goals in 32 matches.
Mohamed Amine Ihattaren
Ihattaren was highly rated as a youngster at Dutch outfit PSV Eindhoven. After playing over 70 matches for PSV, he earned a move to Juventus.
Since then, he has been on loan to the likes of Sampdoria, Ajax and Jong Ajax. He is currently without a club.
Sebastiano Esposito
The once highly rated Inter Milan youngster Esposito has found it tough to break through to the first team.
At the age of 21, he has been loaned out to the likes of SPAL, Venezia, Basel, Anderlecht, Bari and most recently Sampdoria.
Joelson Fernandes
20-year-old Fernandes had hoped to be the next big thing to break through the Sporting Academy but joined Turkish side Hatayspor this summer.