Football Manager 2023 is scheduled to be released on November 8th, across both desktop and mobile platforms. This is always a seminal date for football fans, particularly those who consider themselves to be true connoisseurs of the sport.
Another fascinating aspect of the Football Manager franchise is its scouting function, which looks to accurately rate a broad database of players and subsequently identify the stars of the future.
With the latest iteration of the game just a couple of weeks away, we thought we’d gauge the best young players while building our own next-gen team of the future! Let’s get into it!
The Goalkeeper and Defence
We’ll start with the man between the sticks, with our own scouting identifying Schalke’s Faaris Yusufu as the best young shot-stopper on the game.
Certainly, Schalke have a history of developing outstanding keepers (Manuel Neuer, anyone?), and the 17-year-old Yusufu looks set to continue this trend in the near, medium and longer-term.
In front of Yusufu, we’re selecting Southampton’s talented right back Tino Livramento, with the former Chelsea graduate having already been courted by Real Madrid. We’ve also gone with Brentford’s prestigious, 20-year-old Scottish talent Aaron Hickey at left back, ahead of PSG’s attack-oriented Nuno Mendes.
At centre back, RB Leipzig’s generational talent Josko Gvardiol is a shoe-in, especially with the 20-year-old having been the subject of a £77.4 million bid by Chelsea in the summer. He’s partnered by Ajax’s young superstar Jurrien Timber, who can also play at right back or as a defensive midfielder.
Summary: Yusufu, Livramento, Hickey, Timber, Gvardiol
The Midfield
If you regularly use the Linebet bonus code for free bets, you’ll know that Eduardo Camavinga was hotly tipped to win the coveted Golden Boy award in 2021.
The dynamic, 19-year-old Real Madrid starlet also tops FM’s list of midfield prospects for the third consecutive year, which is fitting as he becomes an increasingly regular starter for Los Blancos.
We’ve decided to use Camavinga as a sole pivot, with Borussia Dortmund’s talented Jude Bellingham in front of him. The former Birmingham protegee has already made 151 career appearances despite being just 19, while he has 22 senior goals to his name from his box-to-box midfield role.
You may be surprised to know that we’ve selected 16-year-old Warren Zaire-Emery in the final midfield berth. However, PSG’s youngest ever player, Zaire-Emery has already made his senior debut this season, and is widely considered to be one of world football’s best prospects.
Summary: Camavinga, Bellingham, Zaire-Emery
The Attack
On the left of our front three we’re selecting Jamal Musiala, with the versatile and technically gifted Bayern Munich star widely tipped as a Balon d’Or winner of the future.
Still just 19 years old, Musiala is incredibly highly rated on the game, with a score of 18 for dribbling and 16 for technique offering an insight into his immense qualities.
We’re opting for a more orthodox winger on the right, in the form of Villareal’s coveted starlet Yeremy Pino. A player with immense flair, pace and dribbling ability, the 19-year-old already has two years’ experience under his belt and has attracted attention from a raft of top European clubs.
But who will lead the line? Well, our backing goes to Brazilian sensation Endrick Felipe, who only recently turned 16 and became the youngest ever starter for Palmeiras earlier this month.
Previously, the prolific forward had scored 165 goals in just 169 games at youth level, and should emerge as one of South America’s best players in the future.
Summary: Musiala, Pino, Endrick
