Can Kenneth Omeruo emulate Real Madrid's Raphael Varane?

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Can Kenneth Omeruo emulate Real Madrid's Raphael Varane?

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Prior to the 2009 FIFA U17 World Cup, only coach John Obuh and perhaps a few other Nigerians knew about the defensive qualities of Kenneth Omeruo.

Like the other players that made up the Nigerian team at that tournament, Omeruo attended a general screening exercise held by Obuh a few months ahead of the tournament, following his appointment as coach of the team.

It was no secret that after Henry Nwosu’s side had failed to impress at that year’s African U17 Championship, the new coach had little more than six months to build a new team for a tournament that the was supposed to host.

Luckily for the coach and his technical crew, the boys selected paid back the confidence shown in them by finishing as runners-up, with Omeruo impressing many scouts and scoring one goal in the first match against a German team that had the likes of Mario Gotze and soon-to-be-new Barcelona keeper Marc André ter Stegen between the sticks.

A few months after the tournament, Omeruo left Hard Foundation Academy to join Standard Liege in the Belgium Pro League. He was subsequently signed by Chelsea in 2012 and was immediately loaned out to Dutch club ADO Den Haag where he chalked up no fewer than 36 appearances, scoring four times . He was, thereafter, named as the club’s best player for the 2012/2013 season.



Omeruo | No longer a well-kept secret

Meanwhile, in Madrid

Like Omeruo, Raphael Varane started with the youth team of France and with French side Lens. He made his first team debut for the club at 18 years. A year later he became a regular feature at the club, even attracting offers from other European sides.

He was tipped by the club’s youth coach to be a great defender in the future for both club and country.

To those that were closely monitoring his development it was not much of a surprise when, in 2011, the club’s president announced that he was joining Spanish giants Real Madrid. There were initial fears that his development might be hindered at Madrid due to possible lack of game time. Varane quashed the initial fears by putting up strong displays whenever he was called upon by Jose Mourinho during the 2011/2012 season.

Before the start of the campaign, he was given the No. 2 jersey. This was seen as a proof of the coach’s growing confidence in the 19-year-old. Throughout that season he was near ever-present in the Madrid team unseating the likes of Pepe and Ricardo Carvalho. He was outstanding in his first Clasico with several completed tackles, a goal-line clearance and a goal of his own, much to the dismay of the Barca fans.

At 6ft 3in, Varane is a strong defender both aerially and in one-on-one situations. His stock has increased so much that, at just 20, he has been touted by France legend Frank Leboeuf as a player with the potential to be better than Madrid legend Fernando Hierro.



Varane | Destined for the Top

Parallels

Like Varane, Omeruo has also shown glimpses of his ability to become a great centre back.

At the 2013 AFCON tournament, he was solid throughout, especially in the game against the Ivory Coast in which he ensured that Didier Drogba did not get a single shot on target throughout the match.

During the Confederations Cup match against Uruguay, Omeruo almost completely nullified the attacking threat of the South American team, spearheaded by Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani. Those who watched the match will find it hard to believe that Cavani was among the top five strikers in Europe at that time due to the manner that Omeruo dispossessed him with ease.

Ever since he joined Middlesbrough in the English Championship he has shown his ability to adapt to the rigours of the English game.

He was nominated for the February Player of the Month award only two months after joining the club. His present coach at Boro, Aitor Karanka, who worked with Varane at Real Madrid, has already tipped Omeruo to be a great centre-half in the future.

He was named in the Golden Boy list of top 40 players under the age of 20 alongside Varane and other youngsters by Tuttosport.

Two Future Greats

Both Omeruo and Varane are still just 20, yet they have already shown the characteristics of true legends in the making.

If the pair can continue in their present upward progression, the football world is likely to see the emergence of another set of centre-half greats in the mould of Alessandro Nesta, Fernando Hierro, Ivan Helguera and Chelsea man John Terry in few years to come.
http://www.goal.com/en-sg/news/3883/fea ... ael-varane
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