Gaming
Games
What are Europe's top wonderkids like in FM 2017?
Mbappé, Dembélé and Alli have been awesome this season, but are Europe's brightest young stars any good in Football Manager 2017?
Football Managerhas long been known for its ability to predict the future. With its incredibly in-depth scouting network, Sports Interactive have uncovered masses of potential stars, and actual football managers have even been known to utilise the game's database to find the next big thing in world football.
But did Sports Interactive manage to predict who would be the brightest young stars of the 2016/17 season? It's been an amazing year for young talent, with Monaco's wonderkids helping them to the Champions League semi-final and Ligue 1 success, Marco Asensio starring in Real Madrid's title-winning season, and Dele Alli becoming one of the Premier League's most valuable players.
How good are these players in Football Manager 2017? We checked out nine of the best young stars of the season in the game...
1. Gianluigi Donnarumma
Buy Gianluigi Donnarumma in Football Manager 2017
© Sports Interactive
AC Milan's young Italian star has cemented his place as the Serie A side's first-team goalkeeper this year. He's still only 18, but this talented shot-stopper is already one of the league's best goalkeepers, and his skills are replicated in FM17. Donnarumma is noted for his outstanding potential in the game, while his current ability is equally as impressive considering his tender age. The Italian international is an expensive buy for any side, but his future potential is worth the outlay.
2. Alessio Romagnoli
Also of AC Milan, Romagnoli's performances in recent years have led to the youngster being compared with Italian legend Alessandro Nesta. The Serie A side are also understandably reluctant to sell Romagnoli in FM17, with the player boasting outstanding core defensive abilities for his age bracket. You'll need a big wallet to open negotiations with the talented defender, but if developed correctly, you'll benefit from one of the world's leading centre-backs in years to come.
3. Benjamin Mendy
French international Mendy was one of many standout young stars who won this season's Ligue 1 title with AS Monaco. The young defender's excellent speed-based attributes in FM17 mirror his real-life strengths down the left-wing, while his other in-game stats remain well-rounded. Mendy isn't necessarily a star signing from the get-go, yet boasts considerable potential. Naturally, his future ability can vary dramatically based on his development, but he has the quality to become an international star with the right training.
4. Youri Tielemans
AS Monaco's legion of wonderkids was recently bolstered with the acquisition of Belgian midfielder Youri Tielemans. The prolific star played a huge part in Anderlecht's title-winning campaign this season, and made his national team debut back in November. 20-year-old Tielemans isn't quite the finished package in FM17, although his technique, flair and passing abilities are notably impressive. It's his outstanding potential that makes his £17.25m release clause such a tempting buy-out though, and a true bargain at that.
5. Dele Alli
Dele Alli's pros and cons – sign him up!
© Sports Interactive
Alli's 18 Premier League goals helped the Spurs midfielder win a second successive PFA Young Player of the Year award. Whether he's reached his peak remains to be seen, but FM17 suggests that there's plenty more to come from the England star. His excellent attributes in finishing, passing and flair make him a menacing attack-minded presence in the game. His potential is even more exciting, and he could well transform into a bona fide English legend in future seasons.
6. Bernardo Silva
Once nicknamed the 'little Messi' of Benfica, Portuguese sensation Bernardo Silva recently made a £43m switch from AS Monaco to Man City. He's another wonderkid who contributed greatly to the French side's Ligue 1 title victory this season, grabbing eight goals and adding nine assists along the way. Silva is a star attacking midfielder for any top-level side in FM17, and his incredible potential could result in the 22-year-old becoming one of the best Portuguese midfielders of all time.
7. Ousmane Dembélé
Ousmane Dembélé is unstoppable in Football Manager
© Sports Interactive
Borussia Dortmund's Ousmane Dembélé has made a huge impact for the Bundesliga side since arriving from Stade Rennais last summer, reportedly attracting the interest of several other major clubs in the process. Football Manager recognises the French winger's immense talents, too – Dembélé is practically unstoppable on either wing in FM17 due to his 18 pace, 17 acceleration and 17 dribbling stats, and he's a creative mastermind thanks to his excellent flair and technique attributes. Expect him to get plenty of goals.
8. Marco Asensio
To break into the Real Madrid side requires an outstanding level of talent. Marco Asensio achieved that feat at just 20 years of age, playing a key part in the club's title-winning campaign this season. FM17 rates the young Spanish attacking midfielder highly – Asensio's excellent technique, flair and dribbling stats are enhanced by a devastating level of pace, making him a crucial signing if you can pry him away from the Bernabéu.
9. Kylian Mbappé
Check out Mbappé's stats in FM17
© Sports Interactive
Mbappé's enjoyed a meteoric rise over the past 12 months, with the French youngster scoring 26 times in all competitions for Monaco. His incredible form doesn't quite match his FM17 ability though, with the 17 year-old rated lower than his recent performances suggest. Underrated though he may be, Mbappé's Football Manager skills remain highly impressive for such a young talent. Unfortunately, prising him away from the Ligue 1 champions remains a mammoth task due to the attacker's superb potential.
