Has PSG secured a future football superstar?
By Manuel Meza
Last summer, PSG made the bold decision to rejuvenate its squad by investing in young talents with high potential, such as Cher Ndour, who arrived on a free transfer from Benfica.
The young midfielder has been regarded as highly promising since his time in Portugal, where he is even hailed as the new Rui Costa.
Considered one of Italy's brightest football prospects, Cher Ndour joined Benfica in 2020 to further his development. Ultimately, PSG swooped in to secure his services last summer after his contract with Benfica was not renewed. In Portugal, Ndour is seen as the new Rui Costa, as highlighted by Marco Martins.
"In practice and when he was signed, many saw him as Rui Costa, that is, a number 10 who can play behind the attackers. We know that Rui Costa liked to shift to the left side. I find that he's a bit like that. That's the comparison we can make when he arrived at Benfica," explained the Record journalist in comments to Foot Mercato (h/t Le10Sport), before elaborating on Cher Ndour's stint at Benfica.
Has PSG secured a future football superstar?
"At Benfica, Ndour was seen as a player for the future. He arrived very early, very young, and he was already highly sought after. He started with the U19s, then the B team, before making it to the first team. I find that very interesting in terms of his development. Whether in the U19s or reserves, he was the playmaker, but more in a deep-lying role, as a number 8, and sometimes as a number 10 to try to carry the ball forward," said Martins.
"He had this role as a young player but with responsibilities, and he knew how to handle them, especially in his last season. He scored 4 goals, played 30 matches, and won the Youth League. It's not a coincidence. They needed a player who could make a difference. Even though others were interesting, Ndour was one of the main elements. He was a leader despite his youth. Over his three seasons, he was in a learning phase. But he had two years of development," added Marco Martins.