PSG are not known for focusing on talent. The transfer of Cher Ndours could be the sign of a change of strategy.
PSG face a summer of profound changes. Lionel Messi has left the cluband it’s entirely possible that Neymar and Kylian Mbappé folgen. The short era of one of the most spectacular attacking trios is over.
The potential loss of the three megastars has prompted a rethink in the French capital. Despite all of the money that’s been spentto lure the three strikers to Paris, it was not enough for great success in the Champions League.
So maybe it’s time for a new HR policy. A symbol of this could be the upcoming signing of Cher Ndour. He will join shortly from Benfica and will not cost a fee due to his expiring contract. The only thing missing is official confirmation. In the central midfielder, PSG have nabbed one of the continent’s most exciting talents.
Manchester United, Manchester City and Juventus were also keen on Ndour and SPOX explains what makes the youngster so special.
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Cher Ndour on PSG: The first steps
Ndour was born in Brescia, 23 days after Greece shocked Portugal in the Euro 2004 final. He learned to play football at the local club ASD San Giacomo Chieri. “When I was five years old I played on a mini-football team,” Ndour recalled to Cronache di Spogliatoio. “Then I switched to the 2004 vintage. We won all the games, at home I have a whole bunch of trophies for the best player.”
So his talent was quickly evident and Ndour did not stay long at his hometown club. Brescia Calcio signed him. He went through a few age groups there and switched to Atalanta Bergamo when he was eleven. There, as an aspiring teenager, he witnessed the successes of La Dea under Gian Piero Gasperini at first hand.
Although Atalanta caused a sensation in Serie A and Champions League, Ndour decided to say goodbye in 2020. To Bergamo’s disappointment, the midfielder moved to Portuguese record champions Benfica.
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Cher Ndour on PSG: The big breakthrough
The change of the then 15-year-old naturally did not attract much attention at first. The hype only came about a year later when Ndour broke a record set by Joao Félix.
On 2 May 2021, Ndour made his debut for Benfica’s two sides, coming on as a substitute in the closing stages of a 2-0 win over Oliveirense. The player he replaced? A striker named Goncalo Ramos, who would score a hat-trick for Portugal in the knockout stages of the World Cup a year and a half later.
With that brief stint, Ndour became the youngest player ever to feature for Benfica’s second team. He surpassed Félix’s record by 33 days. He was a regular starter the following season, missing just eight games for Benfica B all season. He also helped the U19s win the UEFA Youth League.
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Cher Ndour on PSG: Here’s how it’s going
Since then, Ndour has gone from strength to strength. In September 2022 he was called up to the Italy U20 team, where he led the Azzurrini to a 2-1 win over Portugal.
In December 2022 he was on the bench for Benfica’s first team for the first time and was even on the pitch the following week. He was substituted on by coach Roger Schmidt in the 5-1 win against Vitoria Guimaraes.
The German coach also regularly called up Ndour in his Champions League squad. Although it wasn’t enough for an assignment, Ndour was already getting a taste of the atmosphere of the competition, which could soon become his big stage.
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Cher Ndour on PSG: His strengths
Ndour embodies what is now known as a modern, box-to-box midfielder. He likes to play when he has the ball, but he doesn’t shy away from dirty work when the opponent has the ball. In his youth he was superior to many opponents because of his impressive mix of physique and technique.
At 18 years old, Ndour is 1.90 meters tall and strong. His tricky game does not hinder the stature. He has a tight ball control and regularly nibbles his opponents with feints.
He is also a goal threat. He scored four goals in Benfica’s second team last season. His shot strength is striking. He netted several times with rich or refined shots from a distance.
There are also many positive things to report about his defensive qualities. His height means he’s strong in the air – which also makes his late runs into the box dangerous – while his octopus-like legs mean he’s quite a feared tackler. If you combine these gifts with a lot of running, it quickly becomes clear why Ndour could become one of the best eights in Europe in the years to come.
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Cher Ndour on PSG: What he needs to work on
For one thing, to truly become a complete midfielder, Ndour needs to become even more efficient. Especially in the passing game. An assist last season isn’t exactly great for a player in his position.
There are also doubts about his game intelligence. At times Ndour can be reckless and obsessed with retrieving the ball, happily throwing tactics overboard. Thanks to his physical superiority, he was able to conceal his shortcomings well in the juniors. With the pros it won’t be that easy anymore.
The coach, the Paris Saint-Germain holt – probably Luis Enrique – will also have the task of channeling Ndour’s energy on the lawn. What the youngster needs is a lot of leadership and match practice so that the next step in development succeeds.
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Cher Ndour: The new… Paul Pogba?
In 2020, comparisons of Ndour with France’s world champion Paul Pogba appeared for the first time. At the time, Corriere dello Sport saw parallels between the two midfielders. And to be honest, both actually have a similar play style.
Both are tall, native to the same position and technically gifted. However, it remains to be hoped that Ndour is less prone to injury than Manchester United’s one-time world record transfer.
Spicy detail: PSG have tried several times in the past to bring Pogba into Ligue 1 without success. With Ndour, France’s master now gets his younger version.
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Cher Ndour: What’s next?
The announcement of the move to PSG will soon be on the agenda. After that, for Ndour it can only be about fighting for a place in the professional squad quickly and permanently.
A lot also depends on how strong the PSG managers already assess Ndour. It could possibly go directly to another club on loan.
At international level, Ndour also raises high expectations. He has already gone through several national teams in Italy, most recently he was a regular in the U20s. The next step is the U21.
2023-06-29 18:56:47
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