Talents Calendar
On December 8, 2021, Shola Shoretire finally got his first minutes of the season under new Manchester United head coach Ralf Rangnick, making him the second youngest player to feature for the Red Devils in Europe’s elite competition behind fellow youngster Mason Greenwood. Aged 17 years, ten months and six days, the attacking allrounder came on in a 1-1 draw with BSC Young Boys to join Greenwood in the front three – and hopes to take a similar path as the latter.
Born in Newcastle, Shoretire took his first steps at Wallsend Boys Club – following in the footsteps of Peter Beardsley, Alan Shearer, Michael Carrick and Lee Clark among others – before joining the Magpies’ academy at the age of seven. “When someone has that star talent you can just tell,” Ian Riley, who coached Shoretire during his year in the Wallsend U8s, told Goal. “It’s hard to explain but it’s there already. Wherever you played him he did alright because he had determination and he always had confidence, though he mostly played on the right wing. He liked to dribble and go past people and he liked to cross the ball and he scored goals. He was an all-round little package.”
Gavi, Moukoko & Co.: The most valuable players born in 2004
11 Shola Shoretire – Manchester United – Market value: €3m
© imago images
As of December 16, 2021
11 Vinicius Tobias – Internacional – Market value: €3m
© www.shakhtar.com
7 Andreas Schjelderup – FC Nordsjaelland – Market value: €5m
© imago images
7 Matheus Nascimento – Botafogo – Market value: €5m
© imago images
7 Giovani – Palmeiras – Market value: €5m
© imago images
7 Sávio – Atlético Mineiro – Market value: €5m
© imago images
6 Julio Enciso – Club Libertad – Market value: €5.5m
© Prensa Club Libertad
5 Kaiky – Santos – Market value: €6m
© imago images
4 Ângelo Gabriel – Santos – Market value: €7m
© imago images
3 Mohamed-Ali Cho – Angers – Market value: €12m
© imago images
2 Youssoufa Moukoko – BVB – Market value: €18m
© imago images
1 Gavi – Barcelona – Market value: €25m
© imago images
Following a brief stint in the youth setup of rivals Man City, Shoretire joined United’s academy at the age of ten. Speaking about this move, fellow Wallsend alumny Clark expressed his disappointment at Newcastle not luring him to St James’ Park instead. “I’ve watched Shola Shoretire when my son Bobby has been down at the academy at Newcastle and played against Man United in the years above,” he wrote in his column for Tribal Football last year. “Shola is an unbelievable young talent with fantastic ability. Great pace, great movement. He made his debut this week for the U23s having just turned 16. He’s not the biggest but he’s powerful and I know the people at United are excited.”
Shola Shoretire: Comparisons with Greenwood because of versatility
Most of the time since joining United, Shoretire has played above his age group, and in 2018 he became the youngest player to ever feature in the UEFA Youth League when making his debut in the U19s competition at the age of 14 years, ten months and ten days. As the youngster continues to develop, it remains to be seen in which position he will make his breakthrough, given he has played on both wings, as a centre-forward and as a number ten in the past – a versatility that already earned him comparisons with fellow top talents Greenwood and Marcus Rashford.
Talents Calendar 2020: Here is how the players have developed
Juan Cabrera | Germany | Market value: –
© imago images
Schalke’s Juan Cabrera was listed as Uruguayan in last year’s Talents Calendar. Since then he has opted for Germany.
Pipi Nakai | Japan | Market value: –
© imago images
Pipi Nakai has made the next step at Real Madrid and is now part of the reserve team. But he is still awaiting his debut in Spain’s third division.
Bradley Fink | Switzerland | Market value: –
© imago images
Youssoufa Moukoko’s footsteps were not too big: Bradley Fink has been scoring consistently for Dortmund’s U19 side.
Alejandro Iturbe | Spain | Market value: –
© imago images
Alejandro Iturbe is slowly being integrated into Atlético Madrid’s first team and has already made the bench once.
Ramen Cepele | Albania | Market value: –
© Hannover 96
Ramen Cepele has struggled with some smaller injuries but nonetheless has already featured for Hannover 96 II in the Regionalliga.
Turan Calhanoglu | Germany | Market value: –
© imago images
2021 has been a year to forget for Turan Calhanoglu. Hakan Calhanoglu’s cousin struggled with injuries all seasons long.
Kelvin John | Tanzania | Market value: €100,000
© imago images
“As soon as I turn 18, I will move to a big club“, said Kelvin John last year. Promise kept, the forward joined KRC Genk ahead of the season.
Bikash Yumnam | India | Market value: €100,000
© AIFF Media
Bikash Yumnam continues his dream of moving to Europe. But it has been baby steps for the RoundGlass Punjab FC defender.
Simon Ngapandouetnbu | France | Market value: €150,000
© imago images
Born in Cameroon Simon Ngapandouetnbu has opted for France and is still awaiting his debut for Olympique Marseille’s senior team.
Seong-jin Kang | South Korea | Market value: €225,000
© FC Seoul
Seong-jin Kang has not just become a regular starter for FC Seoul but an important first team player.
Kluiverth Aguilar | Peru | Market value: €300,000
© TM/imago images
That Kluiverth Aguilar would move to Europe was already certain last year. Signed by Manchester City, the right-back is currently under contract at Lommel SK, which also is part of the City Group.
Xavi Simons | Netherlands | Market value: €500,000
© imago images
For Xavi Simons the last season was a mixed back. First close to the first team, the talented attacking midfielder has been ignored by Mauricio Pochettino and is currently considering a transfer to another club.
Tommaso Baldanzi | Italy | Market value: €600,000
© imago images
Tommaso Baldanzi led FC Empoli’s U19 to the championship in the Primavera and is now part of the first team.
Marcelo Flores | Mexico | Market value: €600,000
© TM/Ruben Flores
Mexiko, Canada or England: For now Marcelo Flores the talented midfielder has opted for Mexico’s U20 but it is expected that Flores will await a final decision as Canada remains in the mix to secure the services of the 18-year-old.
Ömer Beyaz | Turkey | Market value: €1 million
© imago images
In Ömer Beyaz another talented player found the way to the Bundesliga. The 18-year-old Turkish talent has joined VfB Stuttgart.
Patryck | Brazil | Market value: €1 million
© imago images
U17 world championPatryck is part of FC São Paulo’s first team but for now still without a game.
Louie Barry | England | Market value: €1 million
© imago images
Former Barça talent Louie Barry has made his debut for Aston Villa but is currently on loan at Ipswich Town.
Loizos Loizou | Cyprus | Market value: €1.5 million
© imago images
Loizos Loizou has already won his first title with Omonia Nicosia but a transfer to a bigger league has yet to materialize.
Hannibal Mejbri | Tunisia | Market value: €3m
© imago images
Hannibal Mejbri is the third player in the calendar to switch national teams. Previously with France, the Man United talent has since made the switch to Tunisia.
Luca Oyen | Belgium | Market value: €3m
© imago images
Luca Oyen continues to collect playing time with the first team but has struggled to show the sort of consistency he displayed last season.
Caden Clark | USA | Market value: €3.5 million
© imago images
Not surprising Caden Clark will join RB Leipzig this winter. This year the 18-year-old played his first full season with New York Red Bulls with whom he was eliminated in the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Ísak Bergmann Jóhannesson | Iceland | Market value: €4.5 million
© imago images
Ísak Bergmann Jóhannesson has made the next step in his career and has joined FC Copenhagen.
Arsen Zakharyan | Russia | Market value: €9 million
© www.fcdynamo.ru
Arsen Zakharyan has developed into a top talent under head coach Sandro Schwarz at Dinamo Moscow and is one of the most important players at the club.
Yusuf Demir | Austria | Market value: €12 million
© imago images
Yusuf Demir has fulfilled his wish and joined FC Barcelona where he has already made his debut for the first team.
With attacking players like Anthony Martial, Jesse Lingard and Edison Cavani linked with moves away from Old Trafford, a chance to make the first team squad more often might soon arise for Shoretire, who signed his first professional contract in February after United fought off interest from Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and Bayern Munich. If not, a loan move could also be a possibility for the youngster take his next steps.
From December 1 to 24, we introduce new players from different countries born in 2004. Area managers, users, and data scouts come into play as experts throughout the series. You can follow all those players by adding them to your TM watchlist.
Homepage
