Brahim Diaz: football's newest sensation?
Brahim Abdelkader Diaz is not a household name around the world, but neither is the Manchester City player far away from being the newest sensation to set the stage alight.
He was promised first team La Liga football when he turns 16 by Malaga FC, the club where he plied his trade from the age of seven. The best in the world were already flocking to his door and Malaga felt they had to act fast.
According to a report published today on Goal.com, at the age of 10 he was being whisked off to Barcelona and being shown around the Camp Nou dressing room by Lionel Messi and another man who could have a considerable impact on his present fortunes -- Pep Guardiola, the Manchester City boss himself.
While Barcelona reached an agreement with Brahim’s father, Malaga did their all to resist the move. Manel Casanova, who was the academy director for Malaga at the time, quickly drew up a contract after seeing the player in action.
“He’s a player with great vision. He starts three steps ahead of the others.
"When he receives the ball, he already has three options to carry out. When you are like that they don’t know if you’re going to go left or right,” Casanova said in an interview with Goal.com.
At the age of 14 Brahim was already playing for under-19 teams while his peers were playing for the under-14 age groups.
In December 2013, three months after his 14th Birthday, Brahim signed for Manchester City and not Barcelona.
While he showed off his talents for his new club in the Alkass tournament in Qatar, he would not play another official youth team game for the next two and a half years so that he and Manchester City will not be sanctioned for signing the teenager before the age of 16.
Having already made his senior Manchester City debut when Pep Guardiola brought on the teenager for a league Cup game, Brahim is set to play the FA Youth Cup final against Chelsea tonight.
Guardiola is a manager who is known for giving opportunities to youth players to show their talent for the first team. He has the ability to not only bring up elite players but also develop and hone their abilities.
Indeed, while speaking to Manchester City’s official website, Brahim said: “Pep is always watching our games. Even if he is not here, he is watching our clips. He loves football and he will be watching us, especially in the Youth Cup, because he likes to watch the youth team.”
“He likes to move the youth players up and if we keep doing well, maybe we will get a chance. Why not?” Brahim added.
The future looks bright for Brahim Diaz as he look set to make an impact on the world of football within the next few years.