European Golden Boys XI: Toffee Tyro Davies Makes His Mark
New for 2017, Bleacher Report is embarking on unearthing the talents of the future, and we will showcase them each week in our Golden Boys XI.
In order to be eligible to feature in this side, the players must have been born in 1997 or later.
It's a narrow field, but there is plenty of young talent out there, and it's our pleasure to highlight them.
The team—in a 4-1-3-2 formation on this occasion—is selected in conjunction with WhoScored.com, from where all stats are referenced unless otherwise indicated.
Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma
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Gianluigi Donnarumma was by far the best goalkeeper who fits our age bracket this week, cementing his place in the XI with a remarkable penalty save in AC Milan's 2-2 draw at Torino on Monday.
So often, 'keepers pick a direction and fling themselves in it at a guess; they feel they have to in order to cover the distance to the corner in time.
Donnarumma is so big, though, that he can afford to wait a little and see what the attacker intends—and that's how the 6'5" goalkeeper managed to save Adem Ljajic's penalty stood still in the middle of the goal.
Against Torino, the 17-year-old Italian made five saves in total and one successful aerial claim.
Left-Back: Theo Hernandez
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Theo Hernandez played his usual left-back role for Alaves on Sunday and was a strong and consistent performer, despite the 1-0 loss to Celta Vigo.
In the first half particularly, he was a regular outlet down the flank on the counter, though his team-mates didn't always find him with passes into space.
Theo was always on the lookout for an overlapping run or smart pass infield, happy to take on the opposition and even get into the box on counters.
With a better final pass, he'd have been in on goal at least twice in the second half, though Alaves were largely on the back foot and his defensive work had to be exemplary.
The 19-year-old's finest moment came with just 10 minutes left on the clock: He won the ball in his own half, took on two, exchanged passes and burst into the box—only to be denied a fantastic goal by the goalkeeper, just a few minutes before the winner came at the other end.
Centre-Back: Issa Diop
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Issa Diop is an emerging French centre-back plying his trade for Toulouse in Ligue 1, and although he was on the wrong end of a 1-0 scoreline against FC Nantes on Saturday, he acquitted himself well.
Diop's long-range passing was a factor all game as he tried to push his side into attacking areas quickly, delivering a few accurate, smart free-kicks to wide areas and moving the ball well.
Unafraid to push out of the defence with the ball at his feet, the 20-year-old completed the most dribbles (three) of any player on the pitch, and—crucially—he was not at fault for the goal conceded.
Centre-Back: Joris Gnagnon
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Joris Gnagnon was part of a Rennes outfit that fought valiantly against Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday, only to fall to a 1-0 defeat.
Les Rouges et Noirs held their own in the possession stakes, totalling 47 percent to PSG's 53, and a key part of that was the defensive line's willingness to play out from the back.
Gnagnon always made himself available, pushed forward smartly and fired firm passes into attacking areas between the lines to start attacks.
The 20-year-old Frenchman has done well to win a place in the XI this season and is developing nicely.
Right-Back: Pedro Pereira
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In a season that has seen the whole squad make giant strides overall, Sampdoria have seen a major improvement from right-back Pedro Pereira.
Coach Marco Giampaolo's side was held to a 0-0 draw by former club Empoli on Sunday, but his 18-year-old defender was nevertheless excellent throughout.
With three tackles and a game-high four interceptions, Pereira thwarted Empoli time and again. He also pressed forward to good effect, providing a good outlet for his team-mates and looking to supply Luis Muriel with a stream of crosses.
Defensive Midfield: Assane Diousse
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A product of the impressive Empoli youth sector, Assane Diousse made his 18th appearance of the campaign for the Tuscan side on Sunday.
The Senegalese midfielder won one tackle while making four clearances and four interceptions, doing a fine job of shielding the defence against a potent Sampdoria attack.
Yet the 19-year-old is more than just a defensive midfielder, completing more passes than all but one of his team-mates. Diousse pushed forward to support Riccardo Saponara and the strikers ahead of him in an eye-catching display.
He could not help his side get the win, but the point they collected at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris saw Empoli increase the gap between them and Serie A's bottom three.
Central Midfield: Maxime Lopez
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It's been a true breakthrough season for 19-year-old Maxime Lopez, who continues to go from strength to strength as he collects more and more senior appearances.
He is developing into a smart attacking midfielder who consistently makes good choices, and although his Marseille team lost to AS Monaco on Sunday, Lopez can be proud of the performance he put in. He was creative, positive and never gave up despite the deficit his team were facing.
His brilliant free-kick set up Rolando's headed goal—the only one Marseille would score in the 4-1 defeat—to make it four assists in 10 starts this season.
Central Midfield: Tom Davies
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Never daunted by the challenge of a midfield battle, Tom Davies topped off a man-of-the-match display for Everton by netting in the 4-0 win over Manchester City on Sunday.
The 18-year-old also showed just how good he is at sniffing out danger around his own goal, by heading off the line to deny Bacary Sagna.
He has the physical attributes to hold his own in the centre of the park, and his performances have given Everton supporters a real lift during a frustrating campaign.
Central Midfield: Nicolo Barella
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Cagliari enjoyed a superb result on Sunday, running out 4-1 winners against a previously impressive Genoa.
Nicolo Barella played his part, shielding the defence and allowing those ahead of him to run rampant.
In an impressive 82-minute display, the 19-year-old registered three tackles, three interceptions and looked comfortable in possession. Those figures are above his averages for the campaign and show the degree to which Barella has improved as 2016/17 has progressed.
The time he spent on loan at Serie B side Como last season has helped, and Cagliari can expect to see some of Italy's bigger clubs start paying attention.
Forward: Yann Karamoh
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Caen upset the applecart on Sunday, beating Lyon 3-2 to put another significant dent in their Champions League hopes for the next season.
With the game locked at 2-2 on the hour, 18-year-old starlet Yann Karamoh turned a hopeful punt into the right channel from Caen midfielder Julien Feret into a goal. The forward darted wide, let the ball bounce and then fired a first-time cross in for Ivan Santini to head home.
The control and measure on the delivery—particularly given it was on the bounce, right in the corner—was sublime.
Forward: Martin Terrier
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Friday evening saw the full debut of Martin Terrier, a 19-year-old forward who has come through the ranks at Lille OSC. He played 80 minutes in a 1-1 draw with AS Saint-Etienne and acquitted himself well.
Perhaps grabbing his first start will increase the attention he is already drawing, with Everton credited with an interest in the Frenchman by L'Equipe (h/t Here Is The City).
Despite his low rank in the squad, he is already on corner-taking duties, such is the sweetness of his delivery, and he came close to netting his first goal in Lille colours, darting across his marker in the penalty box to meet an Eder cross, only to see the shot valiantly blocked.
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