Monday, August 25, 2014

Munir El Haddadi, Barcelona's rising star

 

Why you should be excited about new Barcelona starlet Munir El-Haddadi? 

Aug 25, 2014 14:50 Opinion 

The youngster has enjoyed an incredible rise through La Masia and has forced his way into the first team - sending much vaunted Gerard Deulofeu elsewhere

Luis Enrique's installation as Barcelona boss this summer was always likely to be a good thing for the Catalan club's young players.

A man of the Barca way, he swapped the Clasico divide as a player and went onto manage Barca B before returning for the top job after spells in charge of Roma and Celta Vigo.

One of his first actions in his new role was to announce that Gerard Deulofeu and Rafinha would return to the first team after spending last season on loan at Everton and Celta respectively.

Deulofeu has long been tipped as a future star and several factors appeared to have played into his favour this season. Alexis Sanchez was sold, while his replacement, Luis Suarez, is banned until the end of October. And with Neymar struggling with a back injury after the World Cup, it seemed likely the 20-year-old's time was at last on the horizon.

However, it now seems those factors were aligning for someone else, someone younger. On Sunday night Barca opened their La Liga campaign with a 3-0 win over Elche, and while Lionel Messi was in scintillating form, scoring a brace, it was 18-year-old Munir El Haddadi's name that was on the fans’ lips as they exited Camp Nou at midnight.

It's been a meteoric year for Munir, who only made his debut for Barca B in March. He'd already hit the bar in the first half against Elche, dropping his shoulder and unloading a sweet drive which shook the woodwork, when he seized his big chance moments into the second half. Ivan Rakitic's lofted pass dropped to him just inside the Elche area; he showed no nerves in producing a delicate left-footed finish into the corner.

 "I had no fear about playing him," Enrique confided after the match. "He trains like he plays, he gives us a lot of options and he has a lot of character. He never rests. But let's not get carried away, he still has a lot to do."

Many link the rise of Munir - born in El Escorial, a mountain town just north of Madrid - with the departure of Deulofeu, who has been loaned to Sevilla for the season. Enrique smiled when that point was made, suggesting it made more sense to keep Munir because he can still alternated between Barca and Barca B, however it would be foolish to think the teenager's form in pre-season wasn't a factor in that decision.

With four goals, he was the club's top scorer across their five friendly matches. For those well drilled with the Catalan club, it was no surprise to see him thriving. He may only have made 12 appearances for Eusebio’s B team, but he ended last season's UEFA Youth League as the top scorer, with 11 goals, crowning the final with a brace in a 3-0 win over Benfica - one gracefully thumped home from the halfway line.

He had been playing for Rayo Majadahonda, on loan from Atletico Madrid, when Barca first heard about him from one of their Madrid-based scouts in 2011. Interested to find out more, they sent someone else to watch him. In the game they witnessed, Munir scored a perfect hat-trick and the Blaugrana, overcome with excitement, signed him immediately.

Now it is the rest of Spain who is excited by this talented forward. Already capped by Spain U-19s - although, as his parents are Moroccan, he could yet switch allegiances - the comparisons with his teammate Messi are predictable.

Both made their debuts in their teens, scored as teens and are attacking players, but there are differences. Munir seems more instinctive; the Catalan press point out his strengths lie in the area, finding space and taking chances. This was evident as he hit the woodwork and scored against Elche. He works hard off the ball, too, which could be Enrique's influence.

Neymar, Pedro and Luis Suarez are still to come into Barcelona's front three, so Munir may well be reduced to a bit-part role this season, but Catalan newspaper Sport's front cover on Monday was right: a star is born.