Despite the fact that it’s only a video game it’s interesting to see how players are rated by the so called experts at the EA Games headquarters. Professional scouts are used to gauge the potential of future players in FIFA and Football Manager so surely it’s worth taking a look at how the goalkeepers in FIFA 17 rank. Here is a list of the top 5 best young goalkeepers by their potential future rating.
GIANLUIGI DONNARUMMA
Rating: 76 Potential: 88
Age: 17
Gianluigi Donnarumma is arguably one of the most well-known young talents in the world and probably the most promising goalkeeper in the world. Gianluigi, bearing the same name as Italy’s greatest goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon currently plays for AC Milan. He became the second youngster ever goalkeeper to start in Serie A for AC Milan and has since cemented his place in the starting line-up. Later on, he became the youngest ever goalkeeper to play for the Italian senior team aged 17 years and 189 days. Standing at 6ft 5 and wearing the number 99 shirt for Milan he has consistently proved to be a solid keeper for Milan and may have the potential to reach the heights of his ‘Gianluigi’ counterpart – Buffon.
ALBAN LAFONT
Rating: 74 Potential: 86
Age: 17
Alban Lafont is another very young goalkeeper, coming in at only seventeen years old, that has been making waves around the footballing world. Lafont became the youngest ever goalkeeper to play in Ligue 1. He achieved this with Toulouse and at the tender age pf 17 he managed to make 24 appearances for them last year. So far this year he has featured heavily and looks to be their first keeper for the foreseeable future. Despite this, Toulouse are not a club of huge stature and in this summer’s transfer window or next we could very well see his departure to somewhere like Real Madrid or Manchester City who may look for future goalkeeping options.
SIMONE SCUFFET
Rating: 74 Potential: 85
Age: 20
Simone Scuffet has been highly rated in FIFA for the last couple of years and comes in at a more experienced age (20) than the other two keepers. Scuffet hails from Italy where he currently plays for Serie A side Udinese. Despite not making an appearance in the senior national Italian squad he has played numerous games for the youth sides making a name for himself as one of the most promising keepers in Italy, and the world. At the age of 20, he has been known for some time and no side has made a real conscious effort to purchase him, however they may be waiting out to see how he progresses as his talent is still very raw.
BARTŁOMIEJ DRĄGOWSKI
Rating: 71 Potential: 86
Age: 19
Dragowski is another product of Poland’s excellent goalkeeping youth system which has provided many solid goalkeepers in the past. At 19 years old he has played across all levels of Poland’s national youth teams and has secured a move to Serie A’s Fiorentina (Italy sure does love their goalkeepers!). Before that, he was the first choice keeper for top Polish side Jagiellonia Bialystok who compete at the top tier of Polish football – not bad for what was a seventeen-year-old! For this reason, FIFA scouts clearly think Bartlomiej has a promising future.
TIMON WELLENREUTHER
Rating: 72 Potential: 84
Age: 20
Finally, a move away from Serie A’s promising goalkeepers! Timon Wellenreuther is an upcoming German goalkeeping talent who could make a claim to Neuer’s top spot in the future. Like Neuer, he has started his career at Schalke 04, a great team to play for if you’re a young talent looking to develop as a footballer. Timon is highly rated by FIFA so keep an eye out for him – of course, he could be a flop, like the hundreds of other players FIFA rated highly, like John Guidetti who according to FIFA had huge potential – he now spends his time at Celta, well, not doing much…
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