Talents Calendar
Last year, in Bikash Yumnam, an Indian youngster was presented in the TM Talents Calendar for the first time. Twelve months later, the centre-back is followed by a former teammate: Himanshu Jangra. In 2016, the now 17-year-old centre-forward impressed on trial and was offered a place in the U16 team of Minerva Punjab in Chandigarh for the 2018/19 season, competing in the Hero Junior League. Just as for Yumnam, the path to a place on the Guardian list of the world’s 50 biggest talents began there.
Jangra made seven appearances for Punjab’s U16s in his first year and was instrumental in winning the title, scoring nine goals. The very next year, he moved on to the U18s and partly to the first team, which plays in the second-tier I-League. At the age of 15 years, five months and 20 days, he made his debut against Real Kashmir in a 1-1 draw – the youngest player in the club’s recent history. He was a regular until the Covid-related termination in March 2020, playing five matches for 287 minutes. Jangra also made a name for himself at national team level: In late 2019, he and his team won the gold medal at the U15 South Asian Championship and he was named the tournament’s best player.
Gavi, Moukoko & Co.: The most valuable players born in 2004
11 Shola Shoretire – Manchester United – Market value: €3m
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As of December 16, 2021
11 Vinicius Tobias – Internacional – Market value: €3m
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7 Andreas Schjelderup – FC Nordsjaelland – Market value: €5m
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7 Matheus Nascimento – Botafogo – Market value: €5m
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7 Giovani – Palmeiras – Market value: €5m
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7 Sávio – Atlético Mineiro – Market value: €5m
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6 Julio Enciso – Club Libertad – Market value: €5.5m
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5 Kaiky – Santos – Market value: €6m
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4 Ângelo Gabriel – Santos – Market value: €7m
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3 Mohamed-Ali Cho – Angers – Market value: €12m
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2 Youssoufa Moukoko – BVB – Market value: €18m
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1 Gavi – Barcelona – Market value: €25m
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Via a comparatively uneventful stint at Mohammedan SC, Jangra’s path led to the newly formed Techtro Swades United FC at the end of 2020. In what was a short debut season due to Covid, the attacker immediately became top scorer with five goals in four matches. After another brief spell with the U21s of former club Minerva Academy FC, things really got underway for the talent.
Several clubs from the Indian Super League – the country’s top division – were in the running for Jangra’s services, but in the end none of them got the nod, mainly because of one person. Ranjit Baljit is the owner of both Minerva Academy (formerly Minerva Punjab and Punjab FC) and Delhi FC, and also a partner of Techtro Swades. According to a report by IFTWC, it was him who prohibited Jangra from moving to a different club and instead he went to Dehli FC.
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“Himanshu Jangra has offers of multiple years with a promise of being a regular starter in the later years. The clubs are interested for a long time, but an unusual stubbornness from the player’s parent club is blocking the deals, which, if otherwise, could turn out to be fruitful for the youngster. The clubs that have approached has high regards for the player’s talent but disappointed with the conduct of the parent club,” a named source from one of the clubs is quoted as saying in the report.
Talents Calendar 2020: Here is how the players have developed
Juan Cabrera | Germany | Market value: –
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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: –
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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: –
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Youssoufa Moukoko’s footsteps were not too big: Bradley Fink has been scoring consistently for Dortmund’s U19 side.
Alejandro Iturbe | Spain | Market value: –
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Alejandro Iturbe is slowly being integrated into Atlético Madrid’s first team and has already made the bench once.
Ramen Cepele | Albania | Market value: –
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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: –
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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
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“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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Ísak Bergmann Jóhannesson has made the next step in his career and has joined FC Copenhagen.
Arsen Zakharyan | Russia | Market value: €9 million
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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
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Yusuf Demir has fulfilled his wish and joined FC Barcelona where he has already made his debut for the first team.
Although he has yet to make the step into the top division, Jangra is already being hailed as a potential successor to Sunil Chhetri, who was one of the few Indian footballers to take the step to Europe in 2012, but failed to make it there and remained without a first team appearance. Like Yumnam, the attacker is preparing to become the first Indian ever to play in one of Europe’s top leagues.
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.
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