Football Wonderkid Scout

Football Wonderkids

1. Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich)

Currently on loan at Bayer Leverkusen, Kroos is contracted to Bayern Munich until 2012 and has been hailed as the new Michael Ballack. Kroos burst on to the world scene at the Fifa Under-17 World Cup in Korea when he helped Germany to third place, winning the Golden Ball award for best player of the tournament and winning the bronze shoe after scoring five goals. Making his debut for Bayern Munich on 26 September 2007, Kroos made an instant impact in their 5-0 win over Energie Cottbus, providing two assists for the goals scored by Miroslav Klose. Kroos is widely regarded as one of the best talents to emerge from Germany in the last decade and many believe he will go on to captain his country. In January 2010 Kroos was called up to the national team for the first time for a training session at Sindelfingen. In March 2010 Kroos won his first cap after coming on as a substitute against Argentina in a friendly and many believe he will be included in the squad to travel to the World Cup in South Africa. Loaned to Bayer Leverkusen for the 2009/10 season, Kroos has scored 9 goals in 25 Bundisliga games, helping Leverkusen to second in the league and rivaling parent club Bayern for the title. His impressive form will see him return to the Allianz Arena after the World Cup where he will start the new season as an integral part of Louis Van Gaal's team. With superb vision, leadership and an eye for goal, the midfielder is the complete package and has all the attributes to succeed on the world stage.

2. Sergio Canales (Real Madrid)

A product of Racing Santander's youth ranks, Canales made his first deam debut playing in a Uefa Cup home tie against FC Honka on September 18 2008. With five goals in 12 games for Racing, Canales caught the eye of national boss Vicente del Bosque, who claimed the 19 year-old still had a chance of making the World Cup squad later this year. Real Madrid announced the signing of midfielder Canales in January 2010 on a six year deal for a fee believed to be worth €4.5 million with incentives. Canales will join up with Los Blancos for pre-season training before returning to Racing where he will spend next season on loan. However, Madrid have an option to cancel the loan should he impress which if exercised will lead to an additional payment. Canales who was linked with a number of major European clubs including Man Utd and Arsenal, is technically gifted and has left fans drooling after his impressive performances in La Liga.

Football Wonderkids

1. Toni Kroos

3. Neymar (Santos)

Confident, skillful and mature beyond his years, the young 18 year-old currently plays for Santos and has already been dubbed the new Robinho, with some going as far to compare him to the legendary Pele. Blessed with pace and amazing dribbling skills, Neymar has an eye for goal and can operate as a striker or winger. His eye catching displays have seen scouts from Europe's elite circling around the prodigy, with Manchester United, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea and Juventus all linked with a move for the ace. Neymar who is only playing in his first season with Santos is widely believed to be the future of Brazilian football and Real Madrid are already believed to have a pre-contract agreement. While it could be easy to get carried away with the hype of up and coming Brazilian talents, with players like Lulinha and Denilson failing to live up to their reputations in recent times, Neymar looks to be the real deal and looks set to be the next big samba star to cross the Atlantic to Europe.

4. Romelu Lukaku (Anderlecht)

At just 16 years-old, Lukaka is already a first team regular with Belgian giants Anderlecht. At first glance, Lukaka is anything but a teenager and the powerhouse forward's physical development has helped accelerate him through the youth system at Anderlecht. Lukaku signed from rivals FC Brussels where he scored 68 goals in 68 games. He continued to impress in the youth ranks at Anderlecht and scored a phenomenal 121 goals in 88 games and was rewarded with promotion to the first team and was handed his first professional contract in May 2009. He made his debut a week later against Standard Liege. Lukaka who has represented Belgium U21's was called up to the full national team in February 2010 for the friendly against Croatia, with coach Dick Advocaat claiming the 16-year old starlet was ready after topping the scorer list in the Jupiler Pro League. Described as the next Drogba, Lukaka is one of the most in demand players in world football.

3. Neymar

4. Romelu Lukaku

6. Moussa Sissoko (Toulouse)

Dubbed the new Patrick Vieira, Sissoko is held in high esteem and is widely considered to be one of the best young talents in Europe. Currently playing for Toulouse, the box-to-box midfielder was a revelation last season, helping his side to finish 4th in Lique One. He has been even better this season, which has seen scouts flooding to Toulouse. Linked to Inter, Lyon and Tottenham, it is Sir Alex Ferguson of Manchester United who appears to be most keen and is thought to have opened negotiations in January, with fears growing over the return of Owen Hargreaves. At just 20 years-old, the battling enforcer is powerfully built and is a good tackler and passer of the ball, as well as having an eye for goal. Sissoko who is of Malian decent, is capable of playing in the holding role or in a more advanced position. The energetic starlet was recently promoted to the senior French national team, making his debut against the Faroe Islands in a 5-0 victory.

5. Mateo Mussachio

2. Sergio Canales

5. Mateo Musacchio (Villarreal)

The young Argentine centre-back made his debut at the age of 16 years old for River Plate in the 2006-07 season and is widely regarded as one of the best South American prospects around. He first caught the attention of a number of leading European clubs at the 2007 U17 World Cup when he helped his country to the quarter finals. He was widely tipped to join Real Madrid, but in August 2009, Musacchio joined Villarreal. After playing for Villareal B, he made his debut for the first team on February 13 2010 in Villarreal's 2-1 win over Athletic Bilbao, coming on as a substitute. He started Villarreal's next game against Real Madrid at the Bernebeau in the heart of the defence, losing 6-2, but still impressing. Musacchio who is a good tackler and passer of the ball, looks mature and composed beyond his years and looks set for a bright future in La Liga. Compared to Roberto Ayala, Musacchio heads a new generation of talent coming through in Argentina.

7. David De Gea (Atlético Madrid)

David De Gea is widely considered by many to be a potential heir to Iker Casillas as Spain's future number one, such as the esteem many people hold him. He is recognised as one of the brightest goalkeeping prospects in Spain and has been capped up to U21 level. Nicknamed Van Der Gea by his team mates due to the similarities with Manchester United's Edwin Van der Sar. He has overcome injuries as a youngster to progress through the ranks and has ousted Sergio Asenjo to become Atlético's number one. De Gea helped Spain's U17 win the 2007 European Championship and finish second at the 2007 U17 World Cup. For the past few seasons, De Gea has spent time with the reserves, in Segunda División B. De Gea made his debut for Atlético on September 30, 2009 when he replaced Roberto in the Champions League contest at F.C Porto, not yet aged 19. De Gea who recently signed a contract until 2013 has already seen interest from Manchester Utd.

8. Eduardo Salvio (Atlético Madrid)

At 5 ft 7, Salvio is not the biggest of players but his low centre of gravity and ability to beat defenders means he is one of the most exciting talents from South America. Heading up a new generation of attacking talent from Argentina, Salvio has followed in the footsteps of Javier Pastore in moving to Europe when he signed for Atlético Madrid in January 2010 for €10 million. Salvio can play on either wing, as an attacking midfielder or as a striker and has already been capped by Argentina when he was called up by Diego Maradona to play in a friendly against Panama. Salvio burst on to the scene when he broke in to the Lanus first team for the 2008 Apertura Championship and carried that form into the Clausura Championship in 2009. The 19 year old scored 13 goals in 47 appearances for Lanus and made his debut for Atlético Madrid on 18 February 2010 in a Europa League match against Galatasaray, coming on as a substitute. He looks a natural successor to Sergio Aguero.

9. Mamadou Sakho (Paris SG)

The current French U21 captain who is of Senegalese and Guinean descent currently plays for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint Germain. Sakho who can play at centre back and left-back is one of the most sought after prospects in the transfer market and there has been no end of speculation surrounding his future, with Inter Milan, Manchester United and Arsenal linked. The left-footed defender has been in the spotlight since a young age and has been part of all of France's youth teams. In October 2007, coach Paul Le Guen offered him the armband for his first Le Championnat game at 17 years-old. He joined the U21 French team just a couple of days after turning 18. Starting out as left-back, he immediately impressed with both his physical and tactical qualities. For the new season, Le Guen has moved him to a more central position, to partner Zoumana Camara at the heart of defence where he has looked equally assured and mature beyond his years.

10. Alex Teixeira (Shakhtar Donetsk)

Alex Teixeira is one of the lastest wonderkids to emerge from Brazil. He was recently signed by Uefa Cup winners Shaktar Donetsk from Vasco De Gama for a fee of €6m, joining an already strong Brazilian contingent at the Ukrainian outfit. The attacking midfielder who can play in the hole behind the striker or on the left or right prong in a three man attack, starred at the 2009 U20 World Cup in Egypt, with 3 goals and 2 assists. The pacey 20 year-old who scored 12 goals in 52 games for Vasco was reportedly interesting Chelsea and Manchester United after a series of impressive displays. Alex is finally living up to the hype and potential which has surrounded the Brazilian since he started playing for Brazil U15s. Technically gifted, quick feet and superb vision, he looks certain to go on to play for the full national side. Teixeira joins fellow starlet Douglas Costa at Shaktar, along with Ilsinho, Fernandinho, Jadson and Luiz Adriano.

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Dated: 11/06/10