Scouting tips: players to watch

Issue number 134 of the Big-5 Weekly Post of the CIES Football Observatory ranks players according to the level to which they outperformed their teammates since the start of the season. This allows us highlighting the outstanding performance levels of footballers who are for the most part not yet part of the most competitive teams, but could reach them in the future.

Many U23 players are in the top 3 rankings of the most over-performing footballers per league and position. In Italy, Adam Masina (Bologna, born in 1994) heads the full back table. In Spain, Marco Asensio (Espanyol, on loan from Real Madrid, 1996) is second among attacking midfielders and Víctor Camarasa (Levante, 1994) is third among central midfielders. In Germany, Leroy Sané (Schalke 04, 1996) ranks third among attacking midfielders. In England, Jordan Amavi (Aston Villa, 1994) is at the top of the full back table.

Finally, the French Ligue 1 gathers the most youngsters deserving a chance in a more challenging environment than their current one: Seko Fofana (Bastia, on loan from Manchester City, 1995), Casimir Ninga (Montpellier, 1993), Youssouf Sabaly (Nantes, on loan from Paris St-Germain, 1993), Sofiane Boufal (Lille, 1993), Samuel Umtiti (1993, Lyon) and Issiaga Sylla (GFC Ajaccio, on loan from Toulouse, 1994).

Well established footballers are also in the top three rankings of the most over-performing players, such as, among others, Gonzalo Higuaín (Napoli), Mesut Özil (Arsenal), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Thiago Alcântara (Bayern Munich) and Ángel Di María (Paris St-Germain). The full data is available in issue number 134 of the Big-5 Weekly Post.

For more information on the exclusive approach of the CIES Football Observatory for the technical analysis of performance, and more generally, for sustainable success, please refer to the seventh edition of the Monthly Report.