France is currently number three on Football’s Conservatory list about the number of french players expatriates (758) just behind Brazil(1784) and Argentina(929). Here’s a list of future talents, all of them capped with their age group national team, ten players en route (or already in) for international adventures.

GOALKEEPERS:

LUCAS ZIDANE (13/05/1998)

Lucas Zidane, what a name to bear ! His brother Enzo favors his mother’s maiden name(Hernandez) on his shirt, but Lucas is quite content with his father’s; youth’s privilege and /or unconsciousness?  The fact is that this young player isn’t just” the son of” but a player with a very promising future. After joining Real Madrid’s Youth Academy (2004) he won several youth competitions and he’s currently  France’s U-17 Euro 2015 Cup  winner, after being “heroic” versus Belgium, saving three penalties. He’s very mature for his age, confident, brave and quick off his line, but who will be fool enough to snatch him from Real Madrid’s and Zizou’s  ownership?

DEFENDERS :

 THEO HERNANDEZ (6/11/1997)                                                                                    TheMarseille’s born is the son of another french player, Jean-François Hernandez, former Athletico Madrid player and coincidence or not both his children, Lucas and Theo play for their father’s former club.  Theo, the youngest is a promising defender, giving his best at the left side of the pitch. He’s strong, quick and currently his brother’s most dangerous opponent(both gifted by their father’s  good left foot, both of them defenders.) Theo is more physical though.

OLIVIER BOSCAGLI (18/11/1997)

Another promising defender, Monaco born, but playing for Ligue’s 1 OGC Nice. After spending several years in the club’s Youth Academy, he made his début against Rennes and gave a good show of his quality, (7 interceptions, more than any other player on the pitch.)

MIDFIELDERS :

MAXIME BAILA LOPEZ  (4/12/1997) :The playmaker

The Marseille born joined his heart club at the age of fourteen and showed his skills as a future number 10, trying to emulate his idol, Lionel Messi.  “Lopezinho” was on the wish list of several  European bigshots, as Liverpool but he chose to sign his first professional contract with Marseille(8/8/2014). His height 1,67, is the same of another Marseillais player Mathieu Valbuena;  a good omen for the future?

TIMOTHY COGNAT (25/01/1998)

Lyon’s born and bred was the French  team’s captain during their victorious campaign for the Euro U-17  Cup 2015 ( Final vs Germany 4-1). This defensive midfielder is working hard for his teammates, for club and country. Humble but decisive on the pitch, always  ready to help the team to defend or  go forwards. Tottenham’s Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino is watching him closely, but he’s not the only one!

JEFF REINE ADELAIDE ( 17/01/1998)

This player is already an expatriate( playing currently in Premier’s League, Arsenal) but he’s worth a look: he was born in Champigny-sur-Marne  and he’s another promising player from RC Lens Youth Academy.(Raphael Varane, currently with Real Madrid is another proof of Lens quality football Academy)He was transferred to Arsenal during this season’s Summer Window for £1.75 ( 2,5 M Euros), an intelligent buy from Arsenal’s deciders. He’s comfortable playing up front as an attacking left-wing midfielder but he can also play behind the striker, maybe that’s the reason behind this signing. Another Nasri ???

OUSMANE DEMBELE (15/05/1997)

The Vernon (FR) born player has the dual nationality of France and Mauritania but he’s currently playing for France and Rennes, the Breton club who recruited him four years ago from Evreux FC. He  just signed his first professional contract (only aged 17 ) for several European clubs like Juventus, Manchester City , Benfica and Athletico Madrid were interested by the player’s profile.Dembélé scored 15 goals in 20 games and 4 in eight games with France’s U-17. He thinks that his main qualities are his speed and his dribbling, but he can also play using either feet, left or right.

FORWARDS :

JEAN KEVIN AUGUSTIN (16/6/1997)

The Parisian born player is one of the hottest PSG’s prospects; the eighteen-year-old attacker signed his first professional contract with the Qatari owned club, in February of this year. Augustin has impressed in every game played this season, friendly or not. His raw power and pace is quite unusual for such a young player, but he knows very well the difficulty for a youngster to impose himself in PSG’s first team.”Come and take  me?”  He’s hungry for playtime, so go and get him !

MARCUS THURAM (6/8/1997)

Another “fils à papa” son of  Lilian Thuram one of  the famous eleven who won the World Cup 1998 . The Parma((Italy) born is quite different from his father; he’s a goalscorer, and a good one!  After playing eged 8 with the youngsters of FC Barcelone, he spent three years at the Olympique de Neuilly  and he just signed his first professional three-year  contract  with Ligue’s 1 FC Sochaux. He likes dribbling and going forward. His idols? Neymar and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

MAXWELL GNALY CORNET : (27/09/1996)

The Ivory Coast born, left his country aged only three and started his footballing career with FC Metz in 2003. His professional  début was when he was only sixteen, helping Metz to win Ligue’s 2 Championship. During the Winter Window 2015 he signed to Olympique Lyonnais and helped Lyon win versus his former club(2-0).He also played for France in every age group( U- 16 U-17 U-18 U-19).His good statistics interest many European clubs as Bayern Munchen and Manchester United.

HERE’S SOME HIGHLIGHTS, make your own opinion !

Categories: opinion

Tags: Jean Kevin Augustin, Jeff Rene Adelaide, Lucas Zidane, Marcus Thuram, Maxime Baila Lopez, Maxwell Gnaly Cornet, Olivier Boscagli, Ousmane Dembélé, Theo Hernandez, Timothé Cognat