In latest occasions Ligue 1 has turn into the brand new breeding floor for children. Rennes’ Loum Tchaouna, Lyon’s defensive star Castello Lukeba, and Bayern Munich’s Mathys Tel are simply a number of the kids to come back out of the French league in recent times. There are others as nicely, corresponding to PSG’s 17-year-old sensation Warren Zaire-Emery, and Rennes’ Arnaud Kalimuendo. And now the newest title to hitch the checklist is Nantes left-back Quentin Merlin.
The 20-year-old has established himself as an integral a part of the Nantes squad, making them a defence-heavy facet. Merlin was already given his debut for the senior facet final season however has come to his personal this season.
Merlin has already turn into the most effective younger gamers within the league and has additionally turn into a necessary participant within the youth set-up of France’s nationwide youth workforce. His rise has already been observed by a number of golf equipment who’re circling round to signal him. Nonetheless, a tear in his abductor’s muscle has meant he has not performed for the workforce since mid-Janaury.
However who’s Quentin Merlin, and the way good is he?
How good is Quentin Merlin?
Quentin Merlin was born in Nantes on Could 16, 2002, and began his footballing journey with native facet FC Goelands Sanmaritains in 2008. After spending 4 years on the membership, he acquired the large call-up from Nantes, the most important membership within the area. Nonetheless, solely a yr later left for Pornic Foot.
His stint on the membership lasted solely two years as he returned to Nantes in 2015t and has remained there ever since. After his return to the membership, he spent 5 years within the youth system earlier than he was lastly promoted to the Nantes’ reserve workforce within the 2020-21 season. Merlin would make seven appearances offering one help. These performances prompted Raymond Domenech to present him a senior workforce debut within the Coupe de France in opposition to Lens on February 10, 2021.
From the 2021-22 season, he was promoted full-time to the senior squad. He made a complete of 33 appearances that season and helped Nantes end within the high half of the desk. And the pattern has continued this season as Merlin has turn into one of many first names on the workforce sheets.
LOOK OUT FOR – Quentin Merlin is a extremely thrilling prospect. The 20yo can play wherever throughout the left hand facet & has a beautiful left foot. 2 gls / 3 ass in 28 video games in his debut season are spectacular stats. May be a bit uncooked defensively however he’s consistently studying. pic.twitter.com/YNkKn3YLx8
— Le Classique (@LeClassiquePod) July 30, 2022
Quentin Merlin stats
Within the 2021-22 season, Merlin scored two objectives and offered three assists. Three of his assists additionally got here in single purpose distinction, which helped his workforce win 5 factors. This season he continued his pattern, however an premature harm has ensured that he hasn’t performed a single sport within the final two months.
Nonetheless, regardless of that, his stats are spectacular. In response to Soccerment, he ranks eleventh within the league for variety of interceptions and ninth by way of profitable crosses in Ligue 1.
Merlin can be very adept at carrying the ball ahead. In response to stats from fbref, the Frenchman averages 47.42 carries per 90 minutes among the many high eight percentile of fullbacks.
Merlin averages 36.95 touches in the course of the pitch, which exhibits he’s additionally spectacular whereas contributing to the assault. That is supported by the truth that he averages 3.18 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes among the many high ten percentile of fullbacks.
Quentin Merlin made the U21 high 3 for many probabilities created in 2022. You don’t want stats to know what a left foot he has. Cresswell’s long run alternative is correct right here pic.twitter.com/UucwG1wFcn
— Mahfuz🤙🏽 (@MahfuzCOYI16) January 2, 2023
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Quentin Merlin scout report
Quentin Merlin has performed as a midfielder in his early days, which is why he’s so good going ahead. Taking part in in the course of the park has additionally given him a superb imaginative and prescient that permits him to play line-breaking passes. It is a trait that’s not frequent amongst fullbacks his age.
Merlin can be a menace as quickly as he will get into the attacking third from the wings. His good passing, crossing provides him a number of choices to get the ball ahead. Whereas he often goes for the choice of crossing the ball, Merlin also can play a fast one-two together with his winger close to the boundary of the wing and the left inside channel to maneuver the ball ahead.
Nonetheless, there are weaknesses in Merlin’s sport, primarily his decision-making within the ultimate third. As well as, his defending additionally wants lots of work. Merlin has been common by way of successful duels, be it floor or aerial. He’s additionally inclined to counterattacks, and his defensive positioning, as a rule, leaves his workforce in need of numbers.
Quentin Merlin switch information
Nantes are a mid-table Ligue 1 facet which implies if Quentin Merlin continues his growth, he’s sure to depart the membership sooner quite than later. The Frenchman has proven glimpses of turning into a adequate left-back to sometime play for a high membership.
We should additionally not neglect that Merlin is barely 20 years previous and nonetheless has a number of years left earlier than he hits his peak. And if he manages to do this, anticipate him to turn into one other participant within the French golden technology.
