HIT or MISS? Football's expensive teens

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    A story that dominated the Premier League transfer deadline day last week was that of Manchester United’s £36 million (Dhs201.8m) signing, Anthony Martial. To an outsider, not a lot was known about the Monaco youngster until the night before his record move to the Premier League giants that made him football’s most expensive teenager in history.

    Understandably, there are plenty of doubts over the transfer, not least the fee and generally ones that question United and their transfer chief Ed Woodward’s judgement. The 19-year-old Frenchman is clearly a gifted player but transforming natural ability into the finished product is no mean feat.

    Here, Sport360.com looks at world football’s 10 most expensive teenagers and whether they have proven to be a HIT or a MISS.

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    10. Sergio Aguero – Independiente to Atletico de Madrid (£16m)

    Sergio Aguero burst onto the scene as a 15-year-old, breaking the record for the youngest debutant in Argentina, one previously held by Diego Maradona. Averaging a goal every other game at Independiente, the explosive forward was signed by Atletico de Madrid for £16m (Dhs89.7m) in May, 2006.

    He went on to establish himself in Europe with the La Liga outfit before they doubled their investment by selling him to Manchester City where he’s become their all-time Premier League leading goal scorer.

    VERDICT – HIT: Having gotten five good years out of Aguero before moving him along for a handsome profit, Atletico can’t have any complaints. The player himself has also shown his worth by becoming one of the most revered strikers in the world.

    9. Phil Jones – Blackburn to Manchester United (£16.5m)

    Such was the belief in Phil Jones’ ability that he signed a new five-year contract with Blackburn Rovers that included a £16m clause allowing him to speak to suitors just five months after his first team debut. Manchester United surpassed that figure to acquire the services of the centre-back who was likened to John Terry.

    Early signs at Old Trafford were promising and Jones was already being touted as a future England and United captain. However, injuries stalled his career in Manchester and he’s never quite enjoyed a good run of either form or fitness.

    VERDICT – MISS: Despite being compared by United legend Sir Bobby Charlton to another, Duncan Edwards, Jones is yet to cement a place in the first team four years on from his move. At 23, he’s still got time to come good.

    8. Sergio Ramos – Sevilla to Real Madrid (£19m)

    Following Sergio Ramos’ impressive debut season with Sevilla, Real Madrid came calling and paid £19m (Dhs106.5m) for the promising centre-back in 2005, a record fee for a Spanish teenager. He became the youngest player to feature for Spain and his career has maintained its trajectory ever since.

    Now 29, Ramos is Madrid’s captain and has won football’s highest honours. The World and European champion has gotten better with age and was named La Liga’s Best Defender the last three seasons on the bounce.

    Verdict – HIT: Ramos has developed into one of the finest centre-backs in the world and one that’s renowned for popping up with key goals as well. Recognised as an ideal modern day defender, Madrid’s initial fee for the Spaniard seems like a bargain on reflection.

    7. Antonio Cassano – Bari to AS Roma (£20m)

    When AS Roma spent £20m (Dhs112.1m) to lure Antonio Cassano away from Bari, one could argue that the fee was relatively fair for the precocious talent they got in return. However, what came along with it was a volatile, at times petulant, 19-year-old.

    Playing as a second striker, his talent was undeniable and he won Serie A’s Best Young Player award twice following his move. However, after a series of falling outs with club and international coaches and several ugly incidents on the pitch, Roma shipped him off to Real Madrid four years later for a fraction of what they paid in 2001.

    VERDICT – MISS: Roma got the talent they paid for but never saw it live up to its potential as the negatives far outweighed the positives.

    6. Anderson – FC Porto to Manchester United (£22m)

    ‘Better than Wayne Rooney’ was the report Sir Alex Ferguson got from his brother Martin, who scouted Anderson at FC Porto. Rightly encouraged by the recommendation, Manchester United took the plunge and shelled out £22m (Dhs123.3m) for the teenager who immediately displayed plenty of Samba flair, energy, speed and ability.

    In spite of all his great qualities as a footballer, Anderson could never quite settle. On arrival, the Brazilian was earmarked as Paul Scholes’ successor but was frustratingly sumptuous with his passing one minute and embarrassingly wayward the next.

    VERDICT – MISS: Anderson’s form was far too erratic at Old Trafford and his fitness at times worrying. United fans will always wonder what might have been.

    5. Marquinhos – AS Roma to Paris Saint-Germain (£23m)

    Marquinhos showed plenty of promise from a young age and, at 16, Roma agreed a deal with Corinthians for the youngster at just over £2 million. As per rules in Brazil, Marquinhos could not physically move until he was 18 but when he did, the defender took Serie A by storm, establishing himself as a first team regular before being sold to Paris Saint-Germain for £23m (Dhs129m) after just one season in Italy.

    With fellow Brazilian centre-backs Thiago Silva and David Luiz also playing for the French champions, Marquinhos has done well to garner the playing time he has, making 64 appearances for the club in their last two title-winning seasons.

    VERDICT – HIT: The budding defender hasn’t put a foot wrong and looks like the real deal despite there being scope for improvement. Chelsea’s recent interest shows just how highly he’s rated.

    4. Wayne Rooney – Everton to Manchester United (£26m)

    United spent £26m (Dhs145.8m) to land England’s most precocious talent from Everton in 2004. His first impression in a United shirt couldn’t have been better as he scored a hat-trick in the Champions League against Fenerbahce.

    Five Premier League titles and one Champions League crown later, Rooney’s 12-year stay at Old Trafford has been nothing but successful. Now captaining club and country, he’s also England’s joint all-time top scorer and is on course to achieve the same feat at United too.

    VERDICT – HIT: Rooney may never count himself among the top three players in the world at any point in his career but he’s still been a resounding success and one of the most marketable athletes off the pitch.

    3. Luke Shaw – Southampton to Manchester United (£30m)

    Luke Shaw was one of the breakthrough stars of the Southampton team that did so well on their return to the Premier League in 2013-14. Even as an 18-year-old he was hot on the heels of Leighton Baines for England’s left-back spot.

    Having made the Dhs168.2m move to United last year, Shaw only showed glimpses of his quality as he struggled for fitness. However, he’s looked much sharper at the start of this season and has been one of United’s best players.

    VERDICT – HIT: It may still be a tad too early to brand him a success at United but he’s nailed down a starting position and appears to be ahead in the pecking order for England as well. He’s got all the qualities of becoming a great full-back.

    2. Lucas Moura – Sao Paulo to Paris Saint-Germain (£33m)

    At the end of 2012, several big clubs were interested in Lucas Moura, a mercurial winger from Sao Paulo, but it was PSG who fended off the likes of Man Utd to secure the young Brazilian for a whopping £33m (Dhs185m). The Brazilian has plenty of pace, flair and skill but that hasn’t guaranteed him a regular starting berth for the French champions.

    After only 15 appearances in his debut season, Moura featured significantly more in the two title-winning campaigns that followed but was often used as an impact sub. He seems to be more consistent of late but the arrival of Angel Di Maria may derail his progress.

    VERDICT – MISS: If there’s one person on this list who can change a ‘miss’ into a ‘hit’, it’s Moura. He still possesses phenomenal ability but hasn’t proven a crucial enough cog in Paris. He has also slipped down the pecking order for his national team and was left out of their squad for the 2014 World Cup on home soil.  

    1.  Anthony Martial – AS Monaco to Manchester United (£36m)

    As if his price tag wasn’t a big enough burden, United’s new no. 9 has been labelled ‘the new Thierry Henry’. Martial comes highly rated from the Ligue 1 but will enter a United side still finding their way and creating precious little in front of goal at the moment.

    VERDICT – NA: Bluntly put, the youngster will have to go on to become one of the finest strikers in the world in order to justify his record-breaking fee. Time will tell. No pressure. 

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