Euro 21 is almost here and things are going at full speed, the fixture calendar is already prepared, and you will be able to watch it in person in 11 different venues. And a new star has been rising as the championship approaches.
We are talking of course of Wahid Faghir! The 17-year-old striker has been linked to clubs all over Europe after a strong first year as a professional player for the Danish club Vejle.
The label of being “the new Zlatan Ibrahimovic” has been passed around among several players over the past decade. And while some have emerged to enjoy decent enough careers, none have come close to replicating the levels achieved by the Swedish icon.
Now Wahid Faghir is being forced to take up the mantle of following one of the best strikers of the 21st century, and he hopes to lead Denmark to glory when the U-21 Eurocup returns with the knockout stages on Monday (31).
Having become the youngest player to represent the Danes at the U21 level during the group stage in March, the 17-year-old has again been called up to Albert Capellas’ team as they prepare to face Germany in the quarterfinals.
All eyes will probably be on the Vejle striker, considering that several top clubs have already shown interest in the latest “new Ibrahimovic”.
“Faghir is a fast striker, technically good, has game intelligence, and also takes part in the defensive work,” said Steen Tychosen, head of Vejle’s academy, when Faghir signed his first professional contract as a player at the age of 15 in 2018.
Having grown up in one of the region’s toughest neighborhoods, Finlandsparken, Faghir joined the Vejle academy at the age of six in 2009, before gradually becoming one of the most outstanding youngsters.
He eventually made his senior debut in June 2020, following a campaign that saw him score seven goals and provide nine assists in 11 U19 games.
In 2020-21, he made it to the top flight, scoring six goals in 26 league appearances by the end of the season playoffs, although a hamstring injury limited his participation in the final weeks of the campaign.
Unsurprisingly, clubs from bigger and better leagues are already starting to rummage around for the player. Tottenham, AC Milan, Ajax, and Leicester City have all been named as being interested in signing him, although these are unlikely to be Faghir’s only suitors.
His future in the national team, meanwhile, could also be under some calculated scrutiny, despite having played all of Denmark’s games in his category so far. Son of Afghan parents, the Khorosan Lions have given no hope of convincing Faghir to represent them in the future, although for now, he remains committed to the country of his birth.
“Without any guarantees, we hope and believe that Wahid has a long career ahead of him in the Danish national team because he is a very talented player. He plays an important role in our youth team, and we see in him the potential for a long career in the national team” explained Flemming Berg, the head of elite development at the Danish Football Association.
That important role takes him to Hungary and Slovenia in the coming days, and with a win over France already in their back pocket, Denmark is quietly confident of going all the way in the U21 category. If they want to return to that potential, they may need the latest in a long line of ‘new Ibrahimovics’ to show the world what they can do.
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