U-21

The nominees for the Golden Boy Award, run by the Italian newspaper Tuttosport, are out. Let’s take a look at the best of the bunch. 5. Ozan Kabak He’s gone far under the radar and is a real outside shout, but he’ll probably be glad if he made the top 20. However, in my view, he’s the best centre-back on the list. He has made 56 appearances at the senior level – for Galatasaray (18), Stuttgart (15), and Schalke (23), where he has made 204 clearances – that’s 4.2 per 90 minutes! He’s strong on the ball too, as he completes 52.1 passes per 90 minutes. When you combine those stats with the fact that he has played for a relegated Stuttgart side, and a sub-par Schalke side, you can start to see the quality this man possesses. The Turkish centre-back is a very smart and mature player too, as he ...