£35m-rated, 6ft 4in prodigy linked with Spurs last summer named in world’s top youngsters list

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A player who was reportedly on the radar of Tottenham Hotspur last summer has been named in Goal’s NxGn 2020 list of the top 50 footballers born on or after 1 January 2001.

Monaco defender Benoit Badiashile was linked with Spurs in July 2019, L’Equipe claiming the North Londoners and Premier League rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers were interested in his services.

The 19-year-old enjoyed a superb breakthrough season in 2019-20, making 20 Ligue 1 appearances and establishing himself as one of France’s best youngsters, so much so that L’Equipe claimed he had a £35million price tag.

Tottenham didn’t move for Badiashile in the end and, despite Monaco beginning the season badly and still very much off the boil – they are currently ninth in the table – the 6ft 4in centre-back penned a new contract until 2024.

Despite Monaco’s struggles and Badiashile’s relative lack of game time in the second half of 2019-20 –  just four league appearances since December – he is ranked at number 31 in Goal’s NxGn 2020 list.

“Benoit Badiashile is the first to admit that he makes a lot of mistakes,” wrote Goal. “But as the Monaco defender also regularly points out he has only just turned 19 and has come a long way since making his senior bow in November 2018.

“The France Under-19 international, who was linked with Valencia in January, models his game on Barcelona’s Samuel Umtiti and there are certainly similarities between the two, given Badiashile is an imposing, left-footed centre-back with an impressive passing range.”

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At just 19 years of age, Badiashile has been impressive and boasts great potential, while his admission of making mistakes shows a level of honesty and willingness to improve that can turn a good player into a great one and a great one into a superb one.

The 6ft 4in ace’s blend of physical strength and technical gifts marks him out as one of Europe’s most promising centre-backs and his spot in Goal’s NxGn list, not to mention comparisons with Samuel Umtiti, suggest that maybe Spurs have missed out on a great talent.