#TalentRadar Team of the Week includes the Best Young Players of the week across Europe’s top 6 leagues (i.e Premier Legaue, Bundesliga, Serie A, La Liga, Ligue 1 & Eredivisie). All players in the lists were 21 and below at the start of the season. For more information on what is #TalentRadar, read this.
Best Young Players Team of the Week | April 1st Week
Goalkeeper
Thibaut Courtois | Atletico Madrid, Belgium, 21
The keeper on-loan from Chelsea put in a decent shift in an important win for Atletico Madrid in the La Liga title race. He wasn’t called upon much but was faced up against a few shots on target against Villarreal. The match had just the 1 goal and Coutois was able to keep a cleansheet and ensure Simeone’s men remain top of the La Liga table.
Defence
John Stones | Everton, England, 19
Everton got an important win in the race for 4th place with an emphatic win over fellow contenders Arsenal. The spot is currently held by Wenger’s men, who have played a game more, but at the Goodison they looked nowhere near getting anything. John Stones had a formidable partnership with Sylvain Distin, keeping a clean-sheet against Arsenal’s weak attack.
Antonio Rudiger | Stuttgart, Germany, 21
Stuttgart got an important win over Freiburg as they look to get clear from the relegation battle. Rudiger was important at the back as Stuttgart kept a clean-sheet in the 2-0 win. He even had an effort late on which struck the wood-work. Despite the poor season, Rudiger has come of age this season and certainly is destined for a bright future, hopefully in the Bundesliga.
NOTE: Antonio Rudiger featured in our list of Best Young Players to Watch-out for in 2014, coming in at #16 in our list of defenders. View the entire list here.
Serge Aurier | Toulouse, Ivory Coast, 21
Young Serge Aurier captained his side in a disappointing 2-1 loss at home to Lille. The Ivorian has really evolved into an attacking threat after starting out in defence, he has moved into a wing-back role, which can easily be mistaken for a right-wingers’ role. He took 3 shots against Lille, getting all on target, even scoring a consolation in the last minute of the game. The goal was a nice instinctive finish, running onto the back post after a flick was played onto his path, as he slid in for the goal.
NOTE: This is his third appearance in the #TalentRadar Team of the Week and he also featured in our #TalentRadar Top 10 Players of the Month list.
Juan Bernat | Valencia, Spain, 21
The Spanish left-back has been showing in the last few months why he could be the next big talent to come through from the La Liga and make a claim in the near future for the national team. Against Villarreal, in a 0-0 draw, he displayed how he has more to his game than just being an attacking threat. He was solid at the back, confident in his play, making the most interceptions and was able to get forward and spray the most number of crosses in as well.
NOTE: Juan Bernat featured in our list of Best Young Players to Watch-out for in 2014, coming in at #8 in our list of defenders. View the entire list here. For a more detailed report on Juan Bernat, we suggest reading this piece on him.
Midfielders
Leon Goretzka | Schalke, Germany, 19
Schalke were held to a 1-1 draw against relegation-battling Werder Bremen. Both goals came in the first half; after Bremen took the lead Goreztka pulled his side level with a fantastic powerful finish from the edge of the box. That was one of 2two shots he took on, target including setting up 3 goal-scoring chances. It was also Goretzka’s 9th straight start as he has settled in well in his first season in the Bundesliga since moving from Bochum.
Mohamed Salah | Chelsea, Egypt, 21
The man who signed from Basel had arguably his best game in Chelsea colours in what was his first Premier League start for the club, and he took his chance effectively. He opened the scoring with a powerful left footed shot in the first half and combined with Eden Hazard to draw the foul and win a penalty against Stoke City in the 3-0 win. He took just the two shots but was clinical. He even made three successful tackles.
For a detailed Scout Report on Mohamed Salah, head this way.
Hakan Calhanoglu | Hamburg, Turkey, 20
How good has Calhanoglu been this season? He has singled handedly carried Hamburg forward as they rose to the relegation-play off spot with Hakan scoring a long-ranger, again. It took him just 4 minutes to get his goal; with the game finishing 2-1, Bayer manager Sami Hyppia was sacked. What’s more remarkable is that Calhanoglu took an incredible 9 shots in the game, another stats record which Calhanoglu’s game has become accustomed to.
NOTE: Hakan Calhanoglu featured in our list of Best Young Players to Watch-out for in 2014, coming in at #16 in our list of midfielders. View the entire list here. This is Calhanoglu’s third appearance in the #TalentRadar Team of the Week. For a more detailed report on Calhaoglu, head this way.
James Rodriguez | AS Monaco, Colombia, 22
The ex-Porto man was at the heart of every Monaco move against Nantes in the 3-1 win. He scored the opening goal with a neatly placed strike from outside of the box as 4-5 Nantes players closed down on him; the shot had more precision than power. He set-up Raggi for the second goal with a well-placed corner and went onto to score the third from the spot. He had the most shots on goal and an 89% pass completion rate.
NOTE: This James Rodriguez’ third appearance in a #TalentRadar Team of the Week.
Attackers
Mauro Icardi | Inter Milan, Argentina, 21
Icardi scored twice against Bologna to earn his spot in the #TalentRadar Team of the Week. The youngster showed his ability to lead the line with this performance, a first brace of his Inter career. The first goal came in the 6th minute as a well placed cross by Nagatomo was turned in by Icardi, a striker’s finish. The second one was a truly wonderful strike which you can watch here. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough as Inter drew 2-2 and said goodbye to any small hopes of Champions League football.
NOTE: Mauro Icardi featured our list of Best Young Players to Watch-out for in 2014, coming in at #20 in our list of attackers. View the entire list here. For a detailed Scout Report on Mauro Icardi, head this way.
Harry Kane | Tottenham Hotspur, England, 20
Prior to the 5-1 win over Sunderland, Kane managed just a cumulative of 34 Premier League minutes over 4 games. The Monday night game was his first start and he took his chance. He scored Spurs 2nd after a good cross from Eriksen, a centre-forward’s finish. The 4th goal was down to him as well, getting past two Sunderland players and firing through Mannone, before Adebayor put it into the open net as the ball was trickling in any way. 8 shots in total, of which 5 were on target.
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