An XI of the best wonderkids to sign on FM 2023: Elliott, Endrick…
The Football Manager 2023 beta is out now ahead of the full release shortly.
And if you’re an FM obsessive, you’re probably already masterminding a strategy of how to conquer the world. To do that, you’ll need to sign a few wonderkids with the best potential. We’ve got you covered.
We’ve scoured through FMScout‘s expertly-compiled database of FM23’s wonderkids and picked out the players rated with the highest potential to put together this XI in a 4-3-3 formation. There’s a mix of established young superstars and lesser-known bright lights.
GK: Elia Caprile
A big part of Leeds United’s strategy in recent years has been identifying incredibly talented young stars from elsewhere.
The likes of Pascal Struijk, Joe Gelhardt and Ilan Meslier arrived as teenagers and progressed in the youth team before progressing to the senior set-up. That’s continued with the likes of Sonny Perkins, Mateo Joseph and Darko Gyabi.
Another diamond scouted was Italian goalkeeper Caprile. The 6’3″ shot-stopper arrived at Elland Road in January 2020. He made 19 appearances for Leeds’ Under-23s before returning to Italy on loan at Serie C side Pro Patria.
Caprile has since been sold by Leeds to Serie B side Bari, where he continues to catch the eye as a prodigiously talented goalkeeper. FMScout have earmarked the 21-year-old as the most promising player in his position in Football Manager 2023, and he’s available at a snip, too.
RB: Tino Livramento
After following in the footsteps of Mason Mount, Reece James and Conor Gallagher – named as Chelsea’s Academy Player of the Year in 2021 – Livramento sought first-team opportunities elsewhere. He moved to Southampton and hit the ground running immediately, enjoying a breakthrough Premier League campaign.
The 19-year-old suffered a serious ACL injury in April. He’s expected to remain out until 2023. But forget about him at your peril. He has all the attributes to develop into an elite right-back – in Football Manager as well as real life.
CB: Giorgio Scalvini
After suffering a relatively disappointing 2021-22 campaign, Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta are back to their best, punching above their weight as surprise challengers for the Scudetto.
A big part of their resurgence has been the emergence of prodigiously-talented 18-year-old centre-back Scalvini. The future of the Azzurri’s backline?
CB: Josko Gvardiol
The Croatia international opted to sign for RB Leipzig ahead of newly-promoted Leeds in the summer of 2020.
After continuing his development back on loan at boyhood club Dinamo Zagreb, Gvardiol has shown at Leipzig why scouts across Europe coveted him so highly.
The 20-year-old can play in multiple positions and is the Bundesliga club’s most profitable asset alongside star striker Christopher Nkunku. He won’t be cheap – in Football Manager or for real-life suitors Chelsea – but he looks worth every penny of any sizeable transfer fee.
One to build your defence around if you’re in charge of a club with megabucks. If not, unlucky.
LB: Alejandro Balde
The La Masia academy graduate already looks capable of being Jordi Alba’s long-term successor at left-back at Barcelona.
Alejandro Balde. That’s it. That’s the tweet.
Video🎥 Via @LaLiga
pic.twitter.com/cCLEl9PPFW— FCB Albiceleste (@FCBAlbiceleste) October 23, 2022
DM: Warren Zaire-Emery
The midfielder is just 16 years old but already breaking through to make some first-team cameo appearances at PSG. He’s the Ligue 1 giants’ youngest-ever debutant and the sky looks to be the limit.
Zaire-Emery has been described as extraordinarily well-rounded for his age. He’s got a great passing range and is adept at carrying the ball. Real Madrid wonderkid Eduardo Camavinga is the only defensive midfielder rated as having more potential by FM Scout.
DM: Jude Bellingham
Destined to become the most expensive English player in history, with Real Madrid set to challenge Liverpool for his signature, Bellingham has taken his game up to a new level at Borussia Dortmund this season.
His Football Manager stats reflect his unreal ability. Already one of the best midfielders in world football. And with a wealth of experience – over 150 senior appearances to his name already – it’s easy to forget he’s still just 19 years old. Scary.
CM: Pedri
You don’t need telling how good he is, do you?
READ: 10 great quotes on Barcelona’s Pedri: ‘He’s the best talent in the world’
FWR: Harvey Elliott
“Since Harvey has [been] playing for the first team he is incredibly consistent. So, he started last year’s season incredibly consistent. He was in the team and probably a standout player early in the season,” says Jurgen Klopp.
“Now in a team which is not in a perfect moment he has a really consistent season so far. Good for him and very good for us as well that he is now scoring as well. It’s a thing he has to involve in his game, definitely.”
That’s good enough for us.
A fantastic finish by young Harvey Elliott 😍
That pass from Salah though 🤌
Liverpool flying now ✈️#UCL pic.twitter.com/3tOvnOmrn6
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 26, 2022
FWL: Andreas Schjelderup
A relatively lesser-known name, the 18-year-old Nordsjælland midfielder is bursting with potential – at least according to his attributes on Football Manager.
FMScout put him alongside the considerably more-expensive Ansu Fati in terms of his potential rating. Keep tabs on the Norway Under-21 international.
ST: Endrick
Like seemingly everyone else, we’ve been keeping tabs on the scarily talented 16-year-old for some time. The Palmeiras attacker only turned 16 in the summer, yet it’s already painfully obvious he’ll be the next big thing out of Brazil.
READ: ‘New Vini Jr’: Endrick’s solo golazo has revealed Brazil’s latest superstar
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