The earliest bets in Europe

Half conviction, half necessity, Xavi Hernández promoted to FC Barcelona this season the group of the youngest footballers to be seen in the European Leagues. As many as six footballers under the age of 20 have played a leading role in the first team before reaching their twenties. Some have already had multiple roles from previous years, such as the now injured Gavi and Alejandro Balde – who turned 20 in October – and others have gone straight in at an unusually early age, between 16 and 17 years old: Lamine Yamal (16) , Pau Cubarsí (16), Héctor Fort (16/17) and the recently signed Vitor Roque, who is 18 years old. In comparison, and although it is too early to venture into the elite, no club of a certain level has made such a commitment to youth as Barça. Now here near. And not only in nominal terms, also in their minutes in the official competition: Lamine Yamal (1,653 minutes), Gavi (1,172′), Héctor Fort (337′), Cubarsí (304′), Vitor Roque (127′ ).

THE LEAGUE

Madrid, 2; Atlético, 1

The result of this accelerated youth development is already visible: some clauses, like those of Cubarsí or Héctor Fort, are so low (10 million euros) that there is already a certain need to update them. It is clear that in the Spanish League, even in clubs with a tradition of youth teams in the first classifieds in the League, the age cut-off to play in the first team is later than in the current Barça. Real Madrid played with 2 players under twenty: the youth squad’s Nico Paz (19 years/128 minutes) and the signed Arda Güler (18 years/76′). Atlético de Madrid gave the field to the recently hired Thomas Vermeeren (18 years/45′) and Girona to John Solís (19 years/454′). Athletic de Bilbao and Real Sociedad, clubs with a great youth tradition, give flight to players over their twenties.

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PREMIER LEAGUE

Male U., 3; Liverpool and City, 1

The Premier League, also because of its purchasing power in the market, gives support to young talents later on in this Barça. Among the top clubs in England, Manchester United is the one that contributes the most teenagers, with 3: Alejandro Garnacho (19 years/1,971′), Kobbie Mainoo (18 years/916′) and Willy Kambwala (19 years/ 100′). Liverpool gave air to the now injured Stefan Bajcetic (19 years/72′) and Manchester City to Rico Lewis (19 years/1,153′). Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have no ’12 year olds’ in the super-elite.

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A SERIES

Juventus, 1

The Italian Serie A does not distinguish itself by prospecting such young talent. Among its most important clubs, only Juventus gave support to Kenan Yilidiz (18 years/538′). The champion and next rival of Barça in the Champions League, Naples, or Inter or Milan do not give duties to such youngsters this season.

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BUNDLESIGA

Bayer, 3; Bayern, Dortmund and Stuttgart, 2

The Bundesliga is, of the 5 major Leagues in the Old Continent, the one that gives the most ‘balls’ to young players. Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen promoted 3 at one point: Madi Monaway (17 years/270′), Noah Mbamba (19 years/104′) and, anecdotally, Ayman Aourir (19 years/2′). Bayern Munich gave duties to Mathys Tel (18 years/704′) and Alaksandar Pavlovic (19 years/520′). Tom Hülsmann (19 years old) and Tarek Buchmann (18 years old), injured, were not published. Stuttgart have given some role to Jovan Milosevic (19 years/39′) and Luca Raimund (18 years/27′), as Dennis Seimen (18 years) and Laurin Ullrich (19 years) are about to make their debuts. Borussia Dortmund, a club with a great tradition of promoting talent, already played Bynoe-Gittens (19 years/852′) and Youssoufa Moukoko (19 years/445′), although it also has the MVP of the recent U-17 World. The Cup Paris Brunner (17 years old) has not yet been seen, as have Abdoulaye Kamara (19 years old) and Julien Duranville (17 years old). Leipzig, Real Madrid’s next rivals in the Champions League, is also a promotional club, although the only ’12-year-old’ it has shown in the elite this season is El Chapaille Bitshiabu (18 years/5′), since Timo Schlieck (17 years old) and Tim Köhler (18 years old) were in the precinct.

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LEAGUE 1

PSG and Brest, 2; Nice, 1

Among the top 3 classified players in Ligue 1 in France, 5 players under twenty have been promoted. Luis Enrique’s PSG, a club with great potential in the market, gave the ball to Zaire-Emery (17 years/1,948′) and Ethan Mbappé (17 years/40′). Stade Brestois has at some point fielded Luc Zogbé (18 years/90′) and Antonin Cartillier (19 years/8′). Nice presented Antoine Mendy (19 years/181′) with Amidou Doumbouya (16 years), Daouda Traoré (17 years) and Yanis Nahounou (19 years) in the company.

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PORTUGAL FIRST LEAGUE

Benfica and Braga, 2; Sports, 1

The Portuguese League has also had no problems giving flight to its youngest promises to the elite. Among the top clubs, this season Benfica has given great prominence to two players under twenty: Joao Neves (19 years old/2,549′) and just signed Gianluca Prestini, from Velez Sarsfield, who at 18 years old has played in Argentina 1,780 minutes. Braga gave duty to Roger (18 years/328′) and Cher Ndour (19 years/119′) and Sporting from Lisbon to the Spaniard Ivan Fresneda, who is now injured (19 years/164′). Sergio Conceiçao’s Porto have not opted for any footballer under the age of 20 this season.

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EREDIVISION

Ajax and AZ, 6; Feyenoord, 4

The Dutch Eredivisie is another of the national leagues without promotional squeamishness. Two clubs are leading the virtual table when it comes to giving roles to ’19-year-olds’. AZ contributed 6 with a lot of fame: Ruben van Bommel (19 years/1,138′), Lequincio Zeefuik (19 years/868′), Wouter Goes (19 years/450′), Maxim Jekken (19 years/ 90′) , Gonçalo Esteves (19 years/77′) and Owusu-Oduro (19 years/690′). Ajax put 6 on the stage: Jorrel Hato (17 years/2,610′), Carlos Forbes (19 years/1,211′), Silvano Vos (18 years/422′), the now injured Mike Gods (18 years/ 124′ ‘), Van Axel Dongen (19 years/106′) and Jaydon Banel (19 years/36′). Feyenoord lined up with 4: Yankuba Minteh (19 years/872′), Leo Sauer (18 years/226′), Antoni Milambo (18 years/115′) and Gjivai Zechiel (19 years/28′). Twente chose 3: Mats Rots (17 years/69′), Gijs Besselink (19 years/63′) and Julien Mesbahi (18 years/38′). PSV Eindhoven gave the field to 2; Isaac Babadi (18 years/285′) and Tygo Land (18 years/1’).

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PRO LEAGUE BELGIUM

Witches, 7; Antwerp, 3; Union St. Gillois, 2

The Belgian League also tends to give way to youngsters without consideration. In fact, numerically, only Bruges fielded more players under the age of 20 than Barça this season. They are Jorne Spileeds (19 years/2,789′), Antonio Nusa (18 years/1,334′), Kyrian Sabbe (19 years/638′), the now injured Joel Ordoñez (19 years/637′), Chemsdine Bald (18 years). / 40′) and former Barcelona player Victor Barberà (19 years/28′), who in the Challenger Pro League contributed 5 goals in 14 games. Antwerp lined up 3: George Ilenikhena (17 years/994′), Kobe Colbanie (18 years/344′) and Artur Vermeeren, who before going to Atlético de Madrid played a total of 2,868 minutes at the age of 18. Union Saint Gillois , leader in Belgium, lined up 2: Noah Sadiki (19 years/1,461′) and Arnaud Dony (19 years/44′). Anderlecht pick 1: Mario Stroeykens (19 years old/1,321′).