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The 2018-19 season is well and truly underway and has generated enormous buzz throughout the footballing fraternity. Of all the big leagues, only the Bundesliga is yet to begin.
The usual suspects have had a good time so far with the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, Barcelona and Real Madrid enjoying strong starts to their season.
The premier players have also made their mark with Messi, Mbappe and Aguero coming up with the goods for their respective clubs. While rivalries like Messi vs Ronaldo and Pogba vs De Bruyne rage on every season, there are a fair share of young guns that slip under the radar.
There haven’t been many occasions where a successful team hasn’t consisted of young talents, filled with fearlessness and exuberance. It is their go-lucky attitude combined with the battle-hardened attitude of the veterans that forms the perfect recipe for success.
Through the course of this article, we will look at players who have the potential to make a mark on the footballing circuit and endear themselves to the fans.
#1 James Maddison (Leicester City)
James Maddison was brought on board by Claude Puel from Championship side, Norwich City. He enjoyed a stellar campaign in 2017-18 and earned his big-ticket move to The Foxes. If his performances in Leicester’s opening games are any indicator, he looks cut out for the Premier League.
In 2017-18, Maddison was the only bright spot in an otherwise gloomy season for Norwich as they finished a lowly 14th. On a personal front, he scored 14 goals while providing 8 assists. However, it was his footballing intelligence and dribbling that made everyone sit up and take notice.
In Leicester’s opening game, he was able to break United’s midfield lines and create space for himself in the ‘hole’. He got on the ball and passed it around confidently. The most encouraging aspect, however, was the ease with which he dribbled past his markers.
He displayed quick feet to wriggle out of tight areas and portrayed enough intelligence to be in the right place at the right time.
Though the season is only a couple of games old, he has shown the potential to be a star in the Premier League. Maddison belongs to a rare breed of footballers who prioritize creativity over calculation. If he can keep improving his skill-set and perform consistently, he can find himself in The Three Lions’ squad and make the ‘No.10’ position his own.
As the season progresses, he is a player you would not want to take your eyes off.
#2 Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich)
Leon Goretzka was signed by Bayern Munich from FC Schalke. After having reached a pre-contract agreement, he arrived in the summer on a free transfer and signed a four-year deal at the Allianz Arena.
Goretzka’s potential was spotted at a very young age and he has been earmarked for success, both internationally and at the club level. After a few seasons at Schalke, he would hope he can finally stamp his mark with Bayern Munich.
Goretzka was part of the German squad which won the Confederations Cup in 2017. He impressed one and all, finishing as the joint-top scorer with three goals. His biggest asset is his ability to keep the team ticking, courtesy his excellent ball control. He is equally adept at creating opportunities for his teammates. In addition to this, Goretzka has shown the skill to make the net bulge from distance.
The young, all-action midfielder is a perfect fit for Bayern Munich. Bayern have missed a midfielder of the ilk of Schweinsteiger, capable of contributing in both boxes. The arrival of Goretzka could signal the end for Bayern’s search for Schweinsteiger’s replacement.
With Vidal leaving in the summer, Goretzka would get his fair share of opportunities and he would hope he can realize his potential.
Goretzka looks set to be a vital cog in the Bayern machinery and this season represents the perfect launchpad for him.
#3 Rodrigo (Atletico Madrid)
Diego Simeone brought Rodrigo into the Atletico Madrid fold to replace Gabi. Though Rodrigo has huge boots to fill, he has started on the right note with his performances.
Rodrigo is a product of Atletico’s youth system. Thus, when he returned in the summer, it was treated as a homecoming. In his time away from Madrid, he became an indispensable part of the Villarreal side and racked up more than 40 appearances in the 2017-18 season.
Rodrigo plies his trade as a defensive midfielder and has been dubbed the new ‘Sergio Busquets’. At 1.90m, he is an imposing figure in the center of the park and dominates opponents with his physicality. To supplement this, he boasts of an exquisite passing range. An elegant passer of the ball, he averaged 66 passes last season with an accuracy of around 90%.
He started the UEFA Super Cup against Real Madrid and was a rock in midfield. He broke up the play astutely and recycled the ball efficiently. If he continues in the same vein, it won’t be long before he is regarded as one of the best in the business.
Despite being 22 years old, he has gained tons of experience in La Liga and looks primed to nail down a starting berth for Atletico. Atletico would hope that he can be their midfield general for years to come.
His acid test would be how he can handle the expectations at his new club. Rodrigo has the potential and the temperament. It is now up to him to cement his status as one of the best defensive midfielders in Spain.
