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| Malang Sarr – Free and Full of Potential |
Chased by a host of European Clubs like Arsenal, Torino, Atalanta, and Fiorentina, Malang Sarr has quickly been deemed as the potential bargain of the summer. After his contract expired with boyhood club, OGC Nice, on 30 June 2020, he has become one of the most sought after free agents in the world and in fact, stands 3rd amongst all the free agents across the world (TransferMarkt).
Early Life
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| Rising to the occasion: Sarr strong in the air as well |
Born in Nizza, Sarr joined local side OGC Nice at the age of six and has since spent the next 16 years pushing through the youth ranks. He finally got his Ligue 1 debut on 14 Aug 2016 against Rennes, scoring the winner on his debut and becoming the second-youngest scorer in Ligue 1 at the age of 17. He signed his first professional contract with Nice on 7 Nov 2016. Sarr has represented France at various youth levels as well. In Feb 2018, Sarr was named by the CIES Football Observatory as the world’s fifth-most promising footballer under the age of 20.
What Does Sarr Offer?
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| Defensively Solid [Courtesy to EADF] |
Being a left-footed centre-half, Sarr provides the very solution to our left-sided CB problem and he can cover up for Maguire with his pace, as we’ve seen over the course of the season that though he has done a good job this season, Harry Maguire has constantly struggled being played on his weaker left side and at times get caught out by pacy players.
Sarr is naturally fit, an engine on the field, can play great long balls from deep, and make runs from the backline as well. Sarr is defensively solid and even a bit aggressive, something that has been felt as lacking in this United side, making 1.9 interceptions/game, 1 tackle/game, and 1.3 clearances/game. His physicality and aerial prowess give him an edge in aerial duels. His injury record is impeccable, a department we’ve constantly struggled with, and he can cover up at LB as well.
But it’s not all brawn and no brain. Sarr has been brilliantly inculcated with football intelligence by the Nice academy and possesses great decision-making, positioning, vision, and above all a very strong work ethic with determination to throw everything out for the badge.
Though he is of course not the finished product and needs to work upon some aspects of his game – Crossing, Leadership – to name a few.
Summary
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| Sarr has been a subject of interest to numerous clubs |
Considering the positions he offers to cover in LCB and LB, defensive prowess, ability to read the game, pace, aerial prowess, range of passing and the sheer physicality Malang Sarr should be a steal for any club in the world as there would be no transfer fee involved for the Nizza-born robust youngster.
At just 21 years of age, he has a lot of room to improve and a lot of potential to grow as well.
Would he be able to take a step up to the fast-paced, highly physical Premier League or for that matter, to a club of the stature as that of Manchester United? That shall remain as something to think upon for now.
