Man City sign "new Messi" Brahim Abdelkader
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) and Imran (@Annihilate Now!) are here to discuss Amad saving our blushes in a win against Southampton as well as our now annual loss at home to Brighton. They discuss Amorim's post-match comments, revisit how mid-table we may or may not be, and discuss some transfer news.
Needs to bulk up IMO.
What an original comparison.
Will play for England at 19.
Because he's more likely to go this route but it doesn't hype the signing enough.
Manchester City pulled off quite a coup on Tuesday when they signed 14-year-old Brahim Abdelkader from Malaga because he has been talked about in Spain as the new Freddy Adu. And much of that talk has come from people at Barcelona who remember the Ghanian-American arriving in MLS at a similar age, despite offers to play his trade at La Mesia.
Barcelona scouts, who have watched Abdelkader’s progress over the last two years and tried and failed to bring him to Barça, believe he has the same quick feet, speed of movement and close control as Adu at that age but displays more leadership and personality.
He takes corners from the right with his left foot and corners from the left with his right foot. He can play as a striker, off the striker, either side of the striker or in midfield. And he has been playing with players three years older than himself in the youth categories at Malaga.
If Barcelona’s attempts to sign him are a reliable gauge, this is not a shot in the dark by City but a coup. They were not the only Premier League club who wanted the teenager but perhaps most significantly they beat Barça to the punch.
The boy had been taken on a trip to a park in Bahia, Brazil, and introduced to Adu and the rest of the players. But Malaga were unhappy with the manner in which Barça tried to sign him. In May 2011 a lunch between directors of Malaga and Barcelona ahead of an end-of-season La Liga meeting between the two clubs was cancelled because of ill-feeling over Barça’s pursuit.
Enter Manchester City, a club now run by former Barcelona executives Ferran Soriano and Txiki Begiristain. Brahim’s family were convinced by the plans for City’s new training complex and that magic, and still occasionally derided, word “project”. City will pay no more than the €300,000 compensation stipulated by Fifa to Malaga when the player turns 16.
Abdelkader wanted to stay at Malaga but the move abroad will be made easier by having mum, dad and his three brothers with him. They are all due to arrive in England next week. The prodigy already speaks English after attending an English school in Malaga. He will train with City and be schooled by the club – just as Adu was at DC United when he joined as a 14-year-old from IMG Acadmey in Bradenton, Florida. It is a victory for the Premier League over La Liga, but what does it do for English football?
Youth academies flooded by foreign youngsters remain an obstacle in the Football Association’s attempts to give the England team a greater pool of talent to pick from.
Brahim’s father is of Moroccan descent and his mother is Spanish. As things stand he wants to play for Spain. But if he spends five years in Manchester and becomes the 19-year-old sensation City believe he will, he will qualify for England under residency rules and it will be down to him to choose.
Saying where he's capable of playing is kind of a moot point since he's 14. At that age, the best players can play pretty much anywhere on the pitch.
Weird that is says that he wanted to stay with Malaga but then he's gone. Also, Malaga can't deny Barcelona off talking to them since he's not under contract so I don't understand that part of the story. If Barcelona would have wanted him, they could have gotten him.
Weird that is says that he wanted to stay with Malaga but then he's gone. Also, Malaga can't deny Barcelona off talking to them since he's not under contract so I don't understand that part of the story. If Barcelona would have wanted him, they could have gotten him.
Yeah it's quite strange. Clearly it meant he wanted to stay in Spain but then decided he'd like to be loaded.
Maybe it's a strict household and it's something his father/parents decided. Málaga doesn't pay nearly as much as City and since he's only 14, the parents (more likely the father) is set to gain from this. It also might not be a money factor. The article mentioning City wooing him over with the new facilities. Having Silva, Agüero, Negredo and Navas there doesn't hurt either.
Which is fair enough!
Yeah I imagine for a 14 year old meeting top players like that who all played in Spain is quite a big deal. And I'm sure their facilities are world class. My first thought though was a father trying to make some money so we're agreed there.
Yeah I don't blame him. Not what I would do of course. But I'm a shit footballer so I don't even get that choice.
Why does a new young player always have to be labled the new Messi, Ronaldo or who ever, puts to much pressure on the lad, why cant they say he is just a excellent young player.
Yeah - Where is the new Cazorla? And we never hear about the new Didi Hamann. Where is the new Hamann?
But also, let's not forget that most people couldn't care less about history. Especially if you're a young player or the family of a young player. You're looking forward, not backwards. Like it or not, City are now a force. They have a world class squad, top notch facilities and plenty of money. They are an attractive club for a young player to go and learn his trade at and potentially break into a first team in years to come that is competing for leagues and Champions Leagues.
Right now, they're a much more attractive club than us for a player who has no affiliation to either club.
If we had signed him, would we be criticising the dad for looking for a pay day for himself?
The signing of the top young prospects is something city are going to do more than us from now on as well as the signing of the top current talents. We will have to work harder to get our players.
How come nobody gets labelled as the next Titus Bramble?
I'd settle for "The next Stephane Henchoz." Good defender in his day, why does no one get labelled the New Henchoz?
Stop bringing up all these world class Liverpool signings. 
He'll go back to Barca at 17 or 18, like Denis Suarez.