Borussia Dortmund prodigy Youssoufa Moukoko could steal the show in Champions League game against Man City

Since he left Borussia Dortmund for Manchester City in the summer, it would be an understatement to say that Erling Haaland has made a good start for the Premier League champions.Hitting the ground at an unparalleled and erratic speed feels more appropriate.

We’re just over two months into the 2022-23 campaign and Haaland’s projected numbers are already making for some amazing reading; a return of 17 league goals from 11 games puts him just one short of the total won the Golden Boot in 1997-98 and 1998-99.And 22 goals in all competitions is just two less than Cristiano Ronaldo’s strong score for Manchester United last season – albeit in 23 fewer games.

If he continues to score at the same pace, the Norwegian Terminator will be on track to score 58 or 59 goals in his debut season in the Premier League.Add to that the fact that he is only 22 years old and players like Ronaldo and Lionel Messi will be sweating over the collection of goalscoring records they have amassed over the past ten years.

Erling Haaland has got off to a flying start since he left Borussia Dortmund for Man City

On Tuesday evening, Haaland returns to face Dortmund and former team-mate Youssoufa Moukoko, who he admitted was “much better” than him at the same age in 2020.

So with all that in mind, Haaland’s humble confession a few years ago that one of his Dortmund teammates was in fact ‘much better’ than him at the same age is a brilliant reference any young player could have at this point.to wish.

That was indeed his assessment of Youssoufa Moukoko, the 17-year-old attacker who is now building a reputation as one of the best prospects in world football at Dortmund.

Moukoko is a product of the Bundesliga club academy, where he came over from FC St Pauli in 2016.

After being born in Cameroon, he moved to Germany with his father Joseph at the age of 10 and later caught the attention of Dortmund by scoring 23 goals in 13 appearances for the second-tier team.

His goalscoring form was even more breathtaking at Signal Iduna Park.In just 88 games, Moukoko registered a whopping 141 goals for Dortmund’s Under-17 and Under-19 teams before an inevitable first-team call-up in 2020.

Moukoko joined Dortmund’s academy in 2016, scoring 141 goals in 88 youth-level matches

The Cameroon-born striker then made his senior arc by replacing Haaland in November 2020

He became the youngest player in Bundesliga history at the age of just 16 years and one day

Ironically, it was Haaland, the center forward who he will now be endlessly compared to throughout his career, like it or not, who gave way to him to earn his senior bow.

Moukoko, who played five times for the Germany Under-21, came off the bench that day in a 5-2 win over Hertha Berlin, becoming the youngest player in Bundesliga history a day after his 16th birthday.

By the time that debut came, Haaland had already expressed his admiration for his then colleague from Dortmund two months earlier.

“Moukoko is much better than I was at his age,” he said.

“I’ve never seen such a good 15-year-old in my life.

“The advantage for him is that he is already playing for Dortmund at the age of 15.

At his age I was still playing for my hometown Bryne.’

In the 52 games since his debut, Moukoko has registered nine goals and seven assists for Dortmund, with four goals and five assists this season.And a month before his 18th birthday, the Cameroon-born starlet is now a fixture in the first team under Edin Terzic.

Terzic has given him the nod in the club’s three previous Bundesliga games, a move that saw the Croatian German boss score two goals and an assist from his young signing – including a strike against champions Bayern Munich.

This season he has become a key member of Dortmund under Edin Terzic

Moukoko also proved that he is capable of big goals with this strike against Bayern Munich

That impressive recent form means Moukoko will definitely be back in line for Dortmund when City come to town on Tuesday night.

With a point needed to seal progress to the knockout stages of the Champions League, it would be crazy if Terzic left him out.

On a night when Haaland returns to his old stew, and nearly every top club on the continent is salivating over English midfielder Jude Bellingham, the spotlight will be on Moukoko’s Dortmund team-mates past and present.

But don’t be surprised if the kid from Yaoundé sneaks under the radar and pokes Pep Guardiola’s side where it hurts to make a name for himself on the biggest stages.

With technical prowess and speed belies his age, Moukoko is already a nightmare for defenders to play against and the fresh forward has proven his ability to score big goals.

The spotlight will be on Haaland returning to Dortmund and Jude Bellingham looking to impress his army of suitors when City visit the German club on Tuesday night

But don’t be surprised if Moukoko sneaks under the radar and steals the show in Germany

With Dortmund trailing Bayern 2-0 earlier this month, he pulled one back for Terzic’s men in the second half with an expert left-footed finish, hitting just inside the penalty area before unleashing a fierce effort past Manuel Neuer.In the end, it inspired a two-goal fight back.

As the meticulous man he is, Guardiola will have done his homework and be well aware of the threat Moukoko could pose to his defense on Tuesday night.

And if reports from Sport correct, the city manager may be tasked with coming up with a plan to stop him more often in the future.

According to the Spanish publication, Liverpool are exploring a free move for Moukoko at the end of the current season, who will no longer have a contract with Dortmund in July.

Pep Guardiola will be well aware of the threat the young Dortmund attacker poses to his defence

And if Jurgen Klopp signs him with Liverpool, Guardiola may have regular dealings with Moukoko

Jurgen Klopp is seen as an admirer of the player, who was impressed by his meteoric rise at his former club.

It is believed the Reds boss sees him as a potential future star of his Anfield attack.

Under the Bosman ruling, Liverpool will be able to open negotiations with Moukoko and his team around the turn of the year, although Real Madrid and Barcelona are also circulating.

And if he gets the chance against City, that list of suitors is likely to skyrocket.

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