juanes Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 Club:Athletic Bilbao Nationality:Spain Age:17 Height:1.69 m / 5.54 ft Weight:63 kg / 138 lbs Position:Attacking mid® http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEGh0PXcbU8/SwLh-YJsKPI/AAAAAAAABgk/19Th8g51B04/s1600/Nassim-BenKhalifa-Just-Football.jpg At only 16 years of age, Iker Muniain is the rising star of Spanish football and the most interesting young player in the Primera Division. With a number of major players transferred to the giants of Spanish football this summer, not many paid attention to the diminutive Muniain who came out of Athletic Bilbao ’s youth system to become the club's youngest player and scorer ever. Now it is clear that this young player is a true gem, a genius who is destined for stardom in the near future. Muniain, 5.5ft, reminds many of Lionel Messi due to his style of play. IMScouting's network of scouts in Spain describe Muniain as a winger who can play on either flank or as a supporting striker. Armed with amazing speed and agility, high-calibre ball control and the fact that he is a truly two-footed player with excellent technique on the ball, Muniain looks as if he is much older than his real age. His maturity is clearly seen in the way he fulfils tactical orders, working hard by chasing defenders and participating in the team's defensive work, plus he has the composure in front of goal and effectiveness in the danger zone that so few players of his age boast. Muniain, who prefers to play on the wing but who has performed this season mostly as a supporting striker or on the right, still has some way to go. Despite the impressive start to his career and his tremendous potential, Muniain is still not a strong player. With more experience and a lot of hard work he will be able to get stronger which will make it even harder to knock him off the ball. While his heading ability is also still under-developed, all the rest of the necessary qualities to be a top footballer are there. And most importantly, he seems to have the right personality needed to make it to the top as when he plays, he always contributes on both sides of the game and maintains a very high tempo. He is also not scared of any individual battles on the pitch and he has a hunger in his eyes that reminds many of Wayne Rooney. This rising star has been on the radar of many European top clubs since he was a child. Liverpool, Barcelona and Real Madrid have been rumoured to be tracking him since he was 12- years-old. But Muniain chose to stay with Bilbao's youth team and had the patience to wait for his chance with the senior side. He was not tempted by the big clubs as he believed it would be better for him to continue his development in a place where he feels comfortable. Muniain received his chance this season, and since then hasn't looked back. He made his first team debut in a Europa League qualification match against Swiss side BSC Young Boys, and became the youngest player ever to appear for Bilbao. One week later he scored in Switzerland to become the club's youngest ever goal-scorer. He continued to break records by becoming the youngest player ever to wear the team's shirt in a league match, and two weeks later he again scored in the Europa League, an excellent goal against FK Austria Wien. The Basque club will surely have problems holding on to this gem in the future. Muniain is contracted until 2012 with Bilbao, and his release clause increases every game he plays with the senior side in the league. With a bright future ahead of him, this little genius is surely a player to watch who has the potential to prove our ambitious headline to be true. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.