AC Milan’s talent scouts are constantly monitoring young players in France and Guy Noel Zohouri is the latest name that they have provided positive reports on, a report claims.
Milan’s French influence is there for all to see with Mike Maignan, Theo Hernandez and Olivier Giroud currently starters, while the likes of Pierre Kalulu and Noah Raveyre were taken from the academies of French clubs, and even players such as Ismael Bennacer and Yacine Adli developed over the Alps.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the latest name in the sights is that of Guy Noel Zohouri, a Le Havre star who has had Geoffrey Moncada’s attention for a couple of years.
Moncada gave an interesting interview with L’Equipe earlier this year in which he highlighted why he likes focusing so much on players from his home country.
“It’s monstrous, in every club and for every generation there are interesting players. young French people are not afraid, because if they make a mistake it doesn’t matter. It’s not like that in Spain, Germany or Italy. If an Italian makes a mistake they will say he’s not ready and he’ll end up on the bench for a long time. It doesn’t happen there,” he said.
It is in the same vein that he broadens his horizons by looking at Zohouri, today a cornerstone of the Le Havre youth team. He made his debut a few days ago with the second team was decisive by scoring a goal in the 1-1 draw against Flers, the fifth level of the French football pyramid. He played for five minutes.
He is a midfielder with good technique and physicality, a classic box to box profile good at making runs forward and attacking space in behind. If necessary he can also play deeper, a position he has already held with good results.
The academy at Le Havre has produced talents like Paul Pogba, Riyah Mahrez and Ferland Mendy so the track record is positive. Zohouri’s contract expires in 2025, and Milan want to sign him as well as Matija Popovic from Partizan Belgrade (17) who is very close to being a done deal.
The other element not to be underestimated is that Zohouri is among the French national teams, now mainly involved with the Under 17s. With José Alcocer’s side he has made two appearances so far, with a goal scored against Slovenia last September.
Is it that this Moncada of a guy doesn’t see any players except from France?
France is the new Brazil. Can’t fault him, Europe is littered with French players. They produce some of the best holding midfielders, wish he can sort that out for us. I think the problem is the Milan strategy, look for opportunities, buy young develop them and sell on if the need arise. That model is what’s keeping the project to develop at a slower pace for us to be able to keep up with our competitors. You wish that they would occasionally look at established players such as Zielinsky, something Inter is good at that can produce results sooner.