One game. That’s all he needed to make himself a name in Greece when no one was expecting it! A few months after the end of the Olympiacos B team, we didn't think we would see profiles like Taiye Abdulateef Yusuf at Olympiacos: those foreign “bets” the club used to make that, for the most part, barely worked out. And with the “golden generation” led by Babis Kostoulas, Theofanis Bakoulas, Chritos Mouzakitis, Antonis Papakanellos and Isidoros Koutsidis, the room for experimentation in the academy seemed to be small. But football, sometimes, can hide some surprises. Especially in a club that belongs to a larger group of clubs - along with Nottingham Forest and Rio Ave - with a shared scouting operating system. "The misfortune of one makes the happiness of others". That’s how the 18 year old Nigerian forward ended up in Greece… after having tried his luck in England, with Forest.
The reason? Victor Awoniyi - brother of Taiwo, the Nottingham Forest Nigerian striker - that operates as the CEO of the academy in which Taiye Yusuf comes from: Unicorns Football Academy, located in Ilorin, Nigeria. Unable to sign for Notthingham due to paperwork issues (something common for young foreign players), Yusuf then came to Greece to be evaluated before joining the U19 team, recently crowned as UEFA Youth League winners and with a new coach, the Frenchman, Romain Pitau.
The first game against Lamia, on September 1st, gave a first answer about his potential: one goal, two assists and an MVP performance for the striker that has became quite an attraction in the Greek press during the past days. He followed up on is debut performance with another assist in a match held behind closed doors against the youngsters of the Greek National Team. But we still know very little about him, especially in a team that is known to feature only Greek players.
Combining delicacy and speed, something unusual for a tall forward (1,85m ), Yusuf also showcased his technique against Lamia, having already played in Nigerian first division in the past with Gombe United. Already mature physically, he seems to be a player that could be set to shine in the next UEFA Youth League campaign that is about to start, even if he needs time to get used to European football and higher expectations in a club like Olympiacos. He also caught the attention at the club due to his personality but, overall, mainly due to his profile that is quite rare at the U19 level in Greece. Awoniyi explained that the young forward, highly regarded for his pace, skill, and goal-scoring ability, has "already begun life in Greece on a positive note”, quoted Nigerian medias, giving more insights on a move that could turn into the most positive surprise of the summer.
So, keep an eye on Taiye Abdulateef Yusuf !
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