THE Champions League is set to return this week, with Europe’s elite ready to battle it out for club football’s biggest prize.
Holders Real Madrid and previous winners Manchester City are the early favourites for the competition – with the likes of Erling Haaland and Vinicius Jr ready to light it up once again.
But while the established stars will be desperate to achieve further glory, what about the wonderkids hoping to leave their first impressions on the Champions League?
Ahead of the competition’s new league phase, we consider the teenage starlets ready to light it up.
LAMINE YAMAL – BARCELONA
At just 17-years-old, Barca winger Lamine Yamal is not hanging around.
He’s already a European champion with Spain, and has 56 first team appearances for Barcelona to his name.
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Yamal has started this season in stunning form, scoring three goals and assisting a further four in a handful of LaLiga outings.
The next step will be to replicate that kind of form in the Champions League, having failed to score in ten European appearances last term – nobody would bet against him arriving with a flourish as Barca travel to Monaco on Thursday.
ANTONIO NUSA – RB LEIPZIG
Having been dubbed the “Norwegian Neymar” during his spell with Club Brugge, Nusa came close to a Premier League transfer in January.
With the 19-year-old having been heavily linked with Tottenham, it was actually Brentford who agreed a £23.5million deal to sign him in January.
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The move dramatically fell through, however, due to issues that cropped up in his medical.
It may end up having been a blessing in disguise for Nusa, however, as he will now get to play in the Champions League for RB Leipzig – having signed for the German side last month.
BOBBY CLARK – SALZBURG
The son of former Premier League star Lee Clark, midfielder Bobby has been tipped for big things.
Having joined Liverpool from Newcastle’s academy, he went on to play 14 times for the Reds under Jurgen Klopp.
Following the German’s departure, the 19-year-old was allowed to leave Anfield – linking up with former Liverpool No2 Pepijn Lijnders at Salzburg in a £10m deal.
He will now have an opportunity to impress on Europe’s biggest stage, with Salzburg set for clashes with the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.
JOAO NEVES – PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN
French champions PSG may not possess the star power of Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi anymore.
But in 19-year-old Joao Gomes, they have one of Europe’s brightest talents who could go on to be one of their most important ever signings.
Neves arrived from Benfica in a deal worth around £60m last month, and he has already hit the ground running.
Having already played nine times in the Champions League for his previous club, the Portuguese will now aim to achieve what Mbappe, Neymar and Messi couldn’t by bringing European glory to the French capital.
KENAN YILDIZ – JUVENTUS
Turkish international Kenan Yildiz has established himself as a regular in Juventus’ first team over the last 12 months.
Despite his impressive form he is yet to play in Europe, due to Juve’s one-year ban from Uefa competitions served last term.
With Juve back in the big time this season, attacking midfielder Yildiz will have an opportunity to shine on the biggest stage.
The 19-year-old can expect plenty of action, having started the Old Lady’s first four games in Serie A, and he is likely to make his Champions League debut against PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday.
ENDRICK – REAL MADRID
After years of excitement, Brazilian wonderkid Endrick finally moved to Real Madrid over the summer – 18 months after initially putting pen to paper with the European champions.
Endrick, 18, has been on football fanatics’ radars for a number of years already – having played 82 times for Palmeiras while earning 11 caps for Brazil.
This season he faces his sternest challenge yet, as he attempts to find his place in Real Madrid’s stacked attack alongside the likes of Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham.
But having already netted his first goal for the club, Endrick can expect his game time to steadily grow as Carlo Ancelotti’s side navigate both domestic and European duties.
ETHAN NWANERI – ARSENAL
Gunners midfielder Nwaneri became the Premier League’s youngest-ever player when he was brought off the bench aged just 15 in a win over Brentford in September 2022.
Fans have only had fleeting glimpses of the England youth international since, with Nwaneri having only made two further appearances for Arsenal.
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Now aged 17, the midfielder appears to be establishing himself as a member of Mikel Arteta’s first team squad.
With Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard unavailable, the Spaniard turned to Nwaneri from the bench during yesterday’s clash with Tottenham – and amid fixture congestion brought on by European commitments, the youngster could be set for more first team action in the coming weeks.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
