Zakaria Bakkali

[Hostedenis 556]

Scored a hattrick today, youngest player ever to score a hattrick in the Dutch competition!

http://www.sporza.be/cm/sporza/matchcenter/mc_voetbal/Nederland_1314/MG_speeldag_2/1.1698731 (Dutch)

Has also been called upon by Wilmots for the NT friendly against France after his good performances against Zulte.

[Weckerz 3,781]

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x12xkfz_psv-eindhoven-5-0-nec-nijmegen-all-goals-ourmatch-net_sport

Unbelievable. Wilmots you better make sure you get him cap tied soon......

[Jype 6,398]

Unbelievable. Wilmots you better make sure you get him cap tied soon......

I heard he got called up for next week's friendly against France. If he features, will that do the trick or will it require an official game like a qualifier?

[Weckerz 3,781]

I heard he got called up for next week's friendly against France. If he features, will that do the trick or will it require an official game like a qualifier?

Friendlies don't count unfortunately

[Stingray 9,441]

Huge star ....

[sutro 1,026]

How is this possible?

I mean for years our players were average at best,last few years we are making future world class players.

It all started with kompany, then we got the likes of hazard, kdb, lukaku,vertonghen,courtois and so many more and now this guy pop up.

Rly our NT was like number 70 in the world,was utter shit if you ask me and we sky rocketed to top 10 of the world and there's no end to it in the future.

Is there some explonation fir this?

[Moros 86]

How is this possible?

I mean for years our players were average at best,last few years we are making future world class players.

It all started with kompany, then we got the likes of hazard, kdb, lukaku,vertonghen,courtois and so many more and now this guy pop up.

Rly our NT was like number 70 in the world,was utter shit if you ask me and we sky rocketed to top 10 of the world and there's no end to it in the future.

Is there some explonation fir this?

Better youth development in Belgium itself inspired by our neighbours ( the prime example being the Dutch) in which there is much more emphasis is on technique and enjoying football than on tactics and winning for one, especially for the younger ages.

[Hostedenis 556]

How is this possible?

I mean for years our players were average at best,last few years we are making future world class players.

It all started with kompany, then we got the likes of hazard, kdb, lukaku,vertonghen,courtois and so many more and now this guy pop up.

Rly our NT was like number 70 in the world,was utter shit if you ask me and we sky rocketed to top 10 of the world and there's no end to it in the future.

Is there some explonation fir this?

While I do agree with you and we've had a big increase in talented players for the last 5 years, I do sometimes regret the amount of times and posts fellow Belgians on here make about our national team. Don't get me wrong, I agree with you. And this isn't aimed at you directly (more at all the Belgian posters on TalkChelsea).

I do like the increase of talent in our NT we have had the last few years, and yes there are a few more talented youngsters just sticking their head out of the water for the last few months like this guy or Januzaj but I somehow feel this is still a Chelsea forum and not a Belgian NT forum. And we don't want to over-glorify every new young talent either, I feel. Don't know who said it (so again, not aiming this directly at you) but lately I've been reading on here that Praet or Tielemans are Chelsea-quality. I'm not saying they're not (well actually I am, but hear me out): they aren't yet. That's what I'm saying. And that's not a very big 'yet'. They're talented, they might become Chelsea-quality, but they aren't yet and might never be (more likely I feel). But enough about Praet or Tielemans, this discussion is about Bakkali. And he's good. Big talent. Chelsea quality? Don't know. Wouldn't want to place money on it. But he's playing very well and if he keeps this form up or keeps improving like he has the last year, who knows?

To give you an example, remember Dries Mertens form at the beginning of last season? Played for PSV as well. Try looking up the statistics of his first few matches (first 5?). He broke some records then as well. And although I like Mertens (a lot), I wouldn't call him Chelsea quality. Very excited about his transfer to Napoli though. Have been watching his preseason.

But don't get me wrong, as a fellow Belgian off course I am excited about our squad as well. There're just better places to discuss that, I feel.

No hard feelings!

[harneth 15]

In one month, it's possible that Belgium will be 6° at the FIFA Ranking i think

The explication of this is the formation of the youth and the chance also.

[Pizy 18,856]

So which clubs are after him?

[Hostedenis 556]

So which clubs are after him?

Manchester City were after him back when he was playing for the youth of Standard Liège in Belgium. That was at the same time PSV was interested and got his signature. I seem to remember other teams were interested too but can't recall which teams.

I'll back up the City interested with a link, just give me a minute

[Sir Mikel OBE 4,920]

Morocco better try to get him.

[Hostedenis 556]

So which clubs are after him?

Apart from the Dutch articles with are easy to find, here's an English one: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2060132/Manchester-City-keen-PSV-Eindhovens-Zakaria-Bakkali.html

It's from the Daily Fail though. But shows you City were interested back in 2011, but they lost the race for him against PSV.

More recently, rumours have been coming up about again. Now that he's playing first team football since preseason he has seen a lot more of the spotlight, and hence teams have seen a lot more from him.

[Stats 7,139]

Regardless of the level of the Dutch league compared to others, scoring a hattrick at the age of 17 is astonishing. Clear talent. Not the worse of leagues and only just turned 17 which is the frightening thing. Hope he stays at PSV though so he can fully develop. Going to be some player for sure. Got a tough choice though out of Holland and Belgium and possibly but doubt it, Morocco.

[Hamilton 2,120]

Sign him up and loan him back to PSV!