The Best Wonderkids on Football Manager 2007
Football Manager 2007 continues the trend of making minor UI improvements, becoming the first version to offer an incredibly basic indication of which position(s) a player might suit.
Goalkeepers
Igor Akinfeev
Born: 8th April 1986 (20 years old)
Position: GK
Preferred Foot: Right
Nationality: Russia (12 caps / 0 goals)
Current Club: CSKA Moscow
Transfer Value: £2.3m
Basic Wage: £4k per week
Contract Expires: December 2009
Player Overview
Now well established as CSKA Moscow’s first-choice keeper, Akinfeev was almost ever-present for the Russian side as they won back-to-back Russian Premier League and Russian Cups in 2005 and 2006. CSKA weren’t so fortunate in European football, losing to Liverpool in the Super Cup and then eliminated at the group stage in the UEFA Cup.
Key Strengths
Akinfeev is already too good to be wasting his talents in his native Russia. Attributes across all three groups show that he’s capable of stepping up to a stronger league. Be wary that he’s quite a risk taking goalkeeper, though Akinfeev’s Eccentricity isn’t too high, his Rushing Out and Tendency To Punch might cause concern for some.
Growth Potential
And he develops into an even better goalkeeper this year! All of Akinfeev’s key stats see improvement, especially his Physical attributes. By 25 years old, Akinfeev is probably the world’s best goalkeeper and still has a decade of football ahead of him. Buy in early to make the most of it!
How Did He Do IRL?
Check out the FM06 Wonderkid Guide for more on Igor Akinfeev.
Scott Carson
Born: 3rd September 1985 (20 years old)
Position: GK
Preferred Foot: Right
Nationality: England (19 U21 caps / 0 U21 goals)
Current Club: Charlton Athletic (on loan from Liverpool)
Transfer Value: £3m
Basic Wage: £15k per week
Contract Expires: June 2011
Player Overview
Carson joins Charlton Athletic on loan hoping to gain his first proper season of playing experience, having backup, first at Leeds and then at Liverpool, before a short term loan to Championship side Sheffield Wednesday towards the end of the 2005/06 season.
Key Strengths
Expect a safe, reliable pair of hands when you play Carson. His Goalkeeping attributes are already quite strong and the other two areas aren’t too shabby!
Growth Potential
Although Carson’s Goalkeeping attributes aren’t likely to improve much, especially if he struggles to find playing time, the remarkable jumps his Mental and Physical attributes make should more than cover it. With the right development, Carson is a shoe in for the next longterm England #1.
How Did He Do IRL?
Carson’s performance with Charlton wasn’t enough to displace Pepe Reina at Liverpool but it was enough to attract another Premier League loan, this time to Aston Villa. The following season, Carson joined West Brom permanently where he had his best run. An unusual two-year stint in Turkey followed before Carson returned to England and established himself as a reliable Championship-level goalkeeper, first with Wigan and then Derby County.
In yet more unusual circumstances, Carson found himself inexplicably spotlighted when he signed for Man City as their third-choice goalkeeper, first on loan at the age of 34 and then permanently at 36. There, Carson made just two appearances in five years but added a second Champions League medal to his trophy cabinet in 2023, after Liverpool’s win in 2005.
Although Carson did break into the England squad a few times, he was quickly eclipsed by Joe Hart and made his last international appearance in 2011.
Oscar Ustari
Born: 3rd July 1986 (19 years old)
Position: GK
Preferred Foot: Right Only
Nationality: Argentina (28 U21 caps / 0 U21 goals)
Current Club: Independiente
Transfer Value: £1.7m
Basic Wage: £500 per week
Contract Expires: June 2009
Player Overview
Ustari established himself as Independiente’s first-choice goalkeeper last season and helped the Argentina U20s side win the FIFA World Youth Championship in 2005, alongside fellow FM07 wonderkids Pablo Zabaleta, Fernando Gago and Lionel Messi. He also travelled to the 2006 World Cup with the senior international side as an understudy to Roberto Abbondanzieri and Leo Franco.
Key Strengths
There’s no reason why Ustari shouldn’t already be starting in one of Europe’s top leagues. If goalkeeper is one of your squad’s weak areas, sign Ustari and you’ll benefit from his almost perfectly optimised Goalkeeping attributes; high teens in everything except Eccentricity and Tendency To Punch, exactly the areas you generally want to keep low.
Growth Potential
If Akinfeev isn’t the world’s best goalkeeper by 2011, that’s because it’s Ustari. His actual Goalkeeping attributes might decline a little but expect Ustari’s Physical numbers to go through the roof! Combined with the stats outlined earlier, you might even prefer Ustari between the sticks.
How Did He Do IRL?
Things didn’t pan out as well for Ustari compared to his FM07 wonderkid compatriots. Ustari joined Spanish side Getafe in 2007, again serving as an understudy to fellow Argentine Abbondanzieri, but was unable to make the goalkeeper spot his own following Abbondanzieri’s departure. Returning to his homeland in 2012, Ustari bounced around several clubs over the next few years, finding his most consistent success in Mexico. In 2024, Ustari reunited with Messi at Inter Miami in the MLS.
Ustari was part of Argentina’s gold medal-winning side at the 2008 Summer Olympics, but an ill-timed injury meant he missed the last two matches and most of the following season. By the time Ustari returned to fitness, Sergio Romero had replaced him as Argentina’s most promising young goalkeeper.
Defenders
Rafinha
Born: 7th September 1985 (20 years old)
Position: D/WB R
Preferred Foot: Right
Nationality: Brazil (15 U21 caps / 3 U21 goals)
Current Club: Schalke
Transfer Value: £4.1m
Basic Wage: £20.5k per week
Contract Expires: June 2009
Player Overview
It was a solid first season in Europe for Rafinha, who made 42 appearances for Schalke across all competitions.
Like last season, Rafinha is a natural DR and WBR, but no longer plays as comfortably at MR.
Key Strengths
Rafinha is already an incredibly well-rounded player and stands a good chance of being better than your current right back, unless you’re managing a top European club. He’s also a strong set piece taker, so brings even more to the table than most young players.
Growth Potential
There isn’t much growth to be found as Rafinha’s career develops. Minor improvements in useful attributes like Marking, Positioning, and Acceleration should help though.
How Did He Do IRL?
Check out the FM06 Wonderkid Guide for more on Rafinha.
Giorgio Chiellini
Born: 14th August 1984 (21 years old)
Position: D/WB L
Preferred Foot: Left
Nationality: Italy (5 caps / 0 goals)
Current Club: Juventus
Transfer Value: £2.7m
Basic Wage: £10.5k per week
Contract Expires: June 2009
Player Overview
Joining Juventus exclusively after a successful season with former co-owners Fiorentina, only to struggle for consistency while competing for a starting spot against Federico Balzaretti. But Chiellini now has a chance to shine in the team’s campaign to return to Serie A. That’s right, Juventus are playing in Serie B this season after being punished by relegation, following a scandal which has rocked Italian football to its core.
Though Chiellini wasn’t part of Italy’s World Cup-winning squad in 2006, it was already clear by this point he would become consistently involved in the near future.
Chiellini is a natural DL and WBL.
Key Strengths
Chiellini is a solid left back, especially if you’re starting with Juventus in Serie B. He isn’t the fastest going forward but high Crossing and Long Throws mean he can still create plenty of opportunities from a deeper position, plus he’s more than capable of providing defensive cover on the left side.
Growth Potential
Expect Chiellini’s Mental attributes to grow alongside playing time, turning him into a more complete player who could easily be a future captain for your team. Other areas aren’t likely to see much improvement by contrast.
How Did He Do IRL?
Chiellini established himself as Juventus’ first-choice left back as the side immediately bounced back to Serie A. It took the Turin side another five seasons to return to their winning ways, doing so in spectacular fashion as they won NINE consecutive Scudettos alongside four successive Italian Cup victories and twice finishing as Champions League runners up. Chiellini played a key role across all of these successful seasons, plus two more that included another cup win, before joining Los Angeles FC in the United States to wind down his career.
The Italian national side had an unusually mixed record across Chiellini’s career, finishing second at Euro 2012 and winning Euro 2020 whilst severely underperforming at the World Cup (and even failing to qualify in 2018 and 2022!). Chiellini made 117 appearances for Italy, captaining the side from 2018 until his retirement and leading them to victory against England at Euro 2020, playing a key role in the final itself.
Pablo Zabaleta
Born: 16th January 1985 (21 years old)
Position: D/WB/AM R
Preferred Foot: Right
Nationality: Argentina (1 cap / 0 goals)
Current Club: Espanyol
Transfer Value: £4.8m
Basic Wage: £11.75k per week
Contract Expires: June 2010
Player Overview
Another member of Argentina’s recent U20s success, Pablo Zabaleta currently plays for Espanyol in La Liga after signing from San Lorenzo the previous year. Espanyol are set to play in the UEFA Cup after winning the Copa del Rey, despite finishing in the bottom half of the league table.
Comfortable up and down the right-hand side, Zabaleta is a natural WBR, MR, and AMR. He won’t have any issues playing as a DR but may need to gain more experience there to become a natural.
Key Strengths
While Zabaleta isn’t the most technically gifted wide player, he possesses surprisingly strong Mental attributes for a young player. Combine this with his ability to dominate play up and down the right hand side, and you’ve got a reliable player on your hands.
Growth Potential
Unlike most wonderkids, there’s no guarantee that Zabaleta will improve much. You might even find that his Technical attributes decline over the next few years. But don’t let that put you off, he’s still more than capable of playing in a top European league and offers valuable cover, even if his skills don’t improve.
How Did He Do IRL?
Zabaleta remained a key member of the Espanyol side until 2008, when newly enriched Premier League side Man City came calling, signing the Argentine ahead of Juventus. He would go on to play a vital role in establishing the Citizens as a dominant force in English football, making 230 appearances over the next nine seasons, including their first two league title wins in 2012 and 2014. In 2017, Zabaleta joined West Ham on a free transfer, adding another 73 club appearances to his tally.
After winning a gold medal with Argentina U23s at the 2008 Summer Olympics, Zabaleta was unfortunate not to find any more success at the international level. Argentina finished as runners up at the 2014 World Cup and 2015 Copa America. Zabaleta earned his final cap in 2016, totalling 58 across his international career.
Sergio Ramos
Born: 30th June 1986 (20 years old)
Position: D RC, DM
Preferred Foot: Right
Nationality: Spain (13 caps / 2 goals)
Current Club: Real Madrid
Transfer Value: £10.5m
Basic Wage: £55k per week
Contract Expires: June 2010
Player Overview
Establishing himself as the natural successor to compatriot Fernando Hierro, Ramos immediately became a key player for Real Madrid in an ultimately underwhelming season. The Spanish giants found themselves trophyless following a narrow aggregate loss in the Copa del Rey semi final, after falling well off their usual standard in La Liga and the Champions League.
Ramos played a modest role in Spain’s qualification for the 2006 World Cup, scoring two goals against San Marino, and going to Germany as the nation’s first-choice right back.
Playing centrally for Real Madrid has made Ramos even more versatile this year! Ramos is now only a natural DC but can comfortably play as DR, DMC, and MC. He can also cover at WBR.
Key Strengths
The focus on central defence means Ramos’ attributes are now better matched to this position than providing support on the right hand side. That hasn’t stopped Ramos from being valuable for his Long Throws though!
Growth Potential
There isn’t likely to be much more development in Ramos’ abilities over the next few seasons. His Mental attributes will naturally improve as he gains more experience, just not quite as significantly as some of his fellow wonderkids.
How Did He Do IRL?
Check out the FM06 Wonderkid Guide for more on Sergio Ramos.
Vincent Kompany
Born: 10th April 1986 (20 years old)
Position: D C
Preferred Foot: Right
Nationality: Belgium (14 caps / 0 goals)
Current Club: HSV
Transfer Value: £5.5m
Basic Wage: £26.5k per week
Contract Expires: June 2012
Player Overview
Although Kompany didn’t feature as often for Anderlecht in the 2005/06 season as he had in previous seasons, the young Belgian still earned a summer transfer to Bundesliga side Hamburg.
Kompany remains a natural DC with potential to cover the RB and DMC positions.
Key Strengths
Expect a sturdy rock in the heart of your defence from Kompany. His all round consistency is capped off by extra points in Tackling, Anticipation, and Bravery, perfect for his role. He may also become the starting point of counter presses, due to his strong ball playing attributes.
One of Kompany’s weaknesses to be aware of is low Natural Fitness, so be wary that overplaying him could lead to injuries.
Growth Potential
Kompany’s Mental attributes should improve, helping make him an even more reliable defensive force. He might not develop into captain material but should still be one of your team’s leaders just through sheer presence (provided he isn’t injured).
How Did He Do IRL?
Check out the FM05 Wonderkid Guide for more on Vincent Kompany.
Gerard Piqué
Born: 2nd February 1987 (19 years old)
Position: D C
Preferred Foot: Right Only
Nationality: Spain (Uncapped)
Current Club: Real Zaragoza (on loan from Man Utd)
Transfer Value: £2.9m
Basic Wage: £3.4k per week
Contract Expires: June 2009
Player Overview
Beginning his youth career at Barcelona, Gerard Piqué signed his first professional deal with English powerhouses Man Utd. Pique made a handful of appearances for the Red Devils before returning to Spain on loan to Zaragoza.
While Piqué is yet to earn his first senior cap, he was recently part of the Spain side who won the European Under-19 Championship.
Piqué is a natural central defender. He can also provide cover as a sweeper or defensive midfielder, though only as a last resort.
Key Strengths
Although Piqué isn’t what you’d consider a “top” defender yet, he’s still a solid option for a midtable top division side. Piqué has reliable attributes for a central defender, helped by his strong Heading ability that could also result in a few goals, if you involve him in your corner set pieces. A season of regular playing time at Zaragoza, exactly the level he can thrive at, is sure to help.
Growth Potential
It’s unlikely that Piqué will improve much in his Technical attributes but development of his Mental stats will be enough to eventually make him an elite defender. In particular, his Influence attribute will rise dramatically.
How Did He Do IRL?
The loan move to Zaragoza was reasonably successful but Piqué struggled to establish himself upon returning to Old Trafford. In 2008, Piqué returned to Barcelona, making almost 400 appearances over the next 15 years at the Catalonian side dominated Spanish, European, and international football competitions.
Piqué’s success wasn’t limited to the club level. Though he wasn’t involved in Spain’s victory at Euro 2008, he soon established himself as the country’s first-choice centreback for the 2010 World Cup, playing a vital role in winning their first World Cup and retaining the European Championship in 2012. The Spaniard earned his 100th cap at the 2018 World Cup before retiring from international football a few months later.
Outside of football, Piqué spent 11 years married to international pop superstar Shakira!
Midfielders
Cristiano Ronaldo
Born: 5th February 1985 (21 years old)
Position: AM RL
Preferred Foot: Either
Nationality: Portugal (38 caps / 12 goals)
Current Club: Man Utd
Transfer Value: £24m
Basic Wage: £45k per week
Contract Expires: June 2010
Player Overview
Things weren’t looking too good for Ronaldo at Man Utd heading into the 2006/07 season. A training ground incident with teammate Ruud van Nistelrooy and controversy involving Wayne Rooney at the 2006 World Cup, left Ronaldo unpopular with fans and wanting a move away from Old Trafford. But the request was denied, giving Ronaldo little choice but to regain the fans’ respect.
This year, Ronaldo is only a natural as a winger on either side, losing his competency to play in the wide midfield positions. He can still provide cover in the hole or up front, just don’t expect him to play as well there.
Key Strengths
Ronaldo is a physical powerhouse capable of dictating play as soon as he gets the ball. His First Touch, Dribbling, and Technique attributes mean problems for the opposition with the ball at his feet!
Growth Potential
Despite already being one of FM07’s best wonderkids, Ronaldo also sees some of the biggest improvements across all of his attributes. Although his Physical attributes don’t improve quite as much as other areas, the fact they still improve means Ronaldo remains one of the most physically dominant players in the entire game several seasons into the game.
How Did He Do IRL?
Check out the FM05 Wonderkid Guide for more on Cristiano Ronaldo.
Andrés Guardado
Born: 28th September 1986 (19 years old)
Position: WB L, AM L
Preferred Foot: Left
Nationality: Mexico (7 caps / 0 goals)
Current Club: Atlas
Transfer Value: £1.7m
Basic Wage: £10.5k per week
Contract Expires: June 2009
Player Overview
Debuting for Atlas a season prior, Andres Guardado has already made a name for himself in Mexico after winning the league’s best rookie award. This success quickly earned Guardado his first international cap for Mexico and earned a spot in the nation’s squad for the 2006 World Cup.
Guardado has the unusual ability to play naturally at WBL and AML, but unconvincingly in the ML position between them. He may improve there with time (and position training), just don’t expect him to settle into it immediately.
Key Strengths
Solid attributes in most areas make Guardado an immediate attacking threat on the left wing. His good Long Shots also mean Guardado can rack up goals regardless of which position you play him in. Just don’t expect Guardado to win many one-on-one battles, his attributes aren’t well adapted to defending or winning the ball.
Growth Potential
While Guardado starts the game with somewhat unbalanced Physical attributes, he quickly improves in Balance and Jumping to become a much more rounded player. His Mental stats also develop, creating a wide threat no matter whether you play Guardado as a winger or more defensively.
How Did He Do IRL?
Another successful season with Atlas saw Guardado snapped up by Spain’s Deportivo La Coruna, spending five seasons at the club before joining Valencia in 2012. Guardado’s time at Valencia was lacklustre, leading to loan moves across Europe in an attempt to regain his past form. This eventually turned into a permanent move to PSV Eindhoven, where Guardado won back-to-back Dutch league titles.
Renewed club success led to a return to Spain, this time with Real Betis, where Guardado’s consistency over the next 7 seasons helped the side re-establish themselves in La Liga and win the Copa del Rey in 2022. Guardado wound down his career by returning to Mexico at Club León.
A consistent feature for Mexico between 2005 and 2024, Guardado earned 180 caps, the highest-capped Mexican player of all-time. Mexico won an impressive six continental competitions during Guardado’s career, helping to establish them as the CONCACAF’s most successful team.
Valon Behrami
Born: 19th April 1985 (21 years old)
Position: WB R, AM RL
Preferred Foot: Right
Nationality: Switzerland (4 U21 caps / 0 U21 goals)
Current Club: Lazio
Transfer Value: £6.25m
Basic Wage: £18.75k per week
Contract Expires: June 2009
Player Overview
Born in Yugoslavia, Valon Behrami moved to Switzerland as a child and began his football career in the Swiss leagues. His impressive performances with Lugano attracted attention from Italy’s Genoa, who signed Behrami in 2003. An impressive season on loan at Hellas Verona saw Lazio buy part ownership in Behrami before signing him fully in early 2006.
After progressing through Switzerland’s youth setup, Behrami made his senior international debut in 2005. He was part of the nation’s 2006 World Cup squad but an injury limited his playing time at the tournament.
Behrami is a natural right-sided player at wing back, midfield, and attacking midfield. He can also play comfortably as a left midfielder and provide cover in several other positions. Well worth considering for this versatility!
Key Strengths
Shuttling the ball down the wing is by far Behrami’s best ability. His Dribbling and speed based Physical attributes are almost unparalleled. He’s also not too bad at winning the ball and crossing it into the box, which help him perform a wide playmaking role quite well.
Growth Potential
Unfortunately, Behrami begins FM07 with a broken leg and spends the first half of the season on the sidelines. This limits his growth considerably and makes him a risky signing, even after he recovers. His attributes are quite likely to drop due to lack of playing time in that first season, but remains a hardworking physical specimen. With careful management of his training schedule focusing on key Technical stats, Behrami can develop into a good winger or box-to-box wingback, depending on your preference.
How Did He Do IRL?
Moving to Premier League side West Ham in 2008, Behrami started life in England well. But a build up of injuries limited his playing time, leading him back to Serie A, first at Fiorentina and then Napoli, where he won the Coppa Italia. Behrami soon found himself bouncing around European leagues, never staying with the same club for more than two seasons until returning to Genoa, where he remained until retiring in 2022.
Behrami also became the first-ever Swiss player to represent the nation at four consecutive World Cup tournaments.
Lionel Messi
Born: 24th June 1987 (19 years old)
Position: AM RLC
Preferred Foot: Left Only
Nationality: Argentina (4 caps / 0 goals)
Current Club: Barcelona
Transfer Value: £27m
Basic Wage: £62k per week
Contract Expires: June 2010
Player Overview
Messi permanently joined Barcelona’s main side for the 2005/06 season, having spent most of the year prior playing for the B team. But he was still more of a squad player than a regular starter, facing an uphill battle to displace the world-class Ronaldinho on the left wing.
Switching over to the right flank this season, Messi is now a natural AMR and AMC. This notably means you can play Messi and Ronaldinho together quite comfortably as Barcelona. He can also still perform well as a left winger but don’t risk playing Messi up front, he simply won’t contribute to his full ability there.
Key Strengths
He’s starting to look like the Messi everybody knows! FM06 Messi has been significantly upgraded, especially his ball playing Technical attributes, like Dribbling and First Touch. His Mental and Physical attributes are also looking much better, at least in the areas that benefit his playing style.
While Messi has speed, his Balance and Jumping are terrible, so don’t expect him to win many aerial duels.
Growth Potential
Don’t expect Messi to improve much beyond his current ability. The biggest area of improvement is likely to be rounding out his physical weaknesses a little.
How Did He Do IRL?
Check out the FM06 Wonderkid Guide for more on Lionel Messi.
Hatem Ben Arfa
Born: 7th March 1987 (19 years old)
Position: AM LC
Preferred Foot: Either
Nationality: France (Uncapped)
Current Club: Lyon
Transfer Value: £4.3m
Basic Wage: £8.75k per week
Contract Expires: June 2007
Player Overview
Ben Arfa has only been able to show glimpses of his potential so far, spending most of his time on Lyon’s bench and only making a handful of starts in the 2005/06 season.
You won’t find Ben Arfa to be as versatile as he was in FM06. Hatem is now only a true natural in the AMC role and accomplished at AML. He can also play as a right winger or striker, just don’t rely on him in those positions regularly.
Key Strengths
A reasonably reliable all rounder, Ben Arfa’s main strengths lie in his ability to shuttle the ball forward quickly. But, like many wingers, some of his Mental attributes limit his involvement in more structured, team based or defensive play.
Growth Potential
It’s quite likely that Ben Arfa’s Physical attributes will grow over the next few years, helping him develop further as an attacking player. Just don’t ever expect him to track back or contribute much to defending.
How Did He Do IRL?
Check out the FM06 Wonderkid Guide for more on Hatem Ben Arfa.
Fernando Gago
Born: 10th April 1986 (20 years old)
Position: DM
Preferred Foot: Right
Nationality: Argentina (12 U21 caps / 0 U21 goals)
Current Club: Boca
Transfer Value: £2.7m
Basic Wage: £1.5k per week
Contract Expires: June 2009
Player Overview
Yet another FM07 wonderkid who participated in Argentina’s U20 World Cup win, Fernando Gago has established himself as a regular at Boca Juniors, who comfortably won both stages of the top Argentinean league last season.
A textbook defensive midfielder, Gago is a natural in the DMC role and offers a solid defensive option further up the field as a central midfielder.
Key Strengths
Gago offers a premium combination of sturdy defensive capabilities and fantastic ball playing attributes. His Mental and Physical attributes support those abilities, making him a solid base for your midfield.
Growth Potential
Already at his Technical peak, Gago continues to grow as a player thanks to improvements in his Mental and Physical attributes, becoming even more reliable as a defensive stalwart. Think prime Makelele once Gago’s Strength and Jumping catch up.
How Did He Do IRL?
Real Madrid soon came calling for Gago’s services where he spent four and a half seasons. However, Gago’s time at Madrid was troubled by injury and stiff competition, leading to a loan move to Roma before leaving permanently for Valencia in 2012. Gago continued to struggle with injuries even after returning to Boca Juniors just one year later.
Although Gago looked set to become a vital member of Argentina’s national side, his injuries limited availability. Still, Gago played a role in helping the side finish second at the 2007 and 2015 Copa Americas, as well as the 2014 World Cup.
Strikers
Wayne Rooney
Born: 24th October 1985 (20 years old)
Position: AM/F C
Preferred Foot: Either
Nationality: England (33 caps / 11 goals)
Current Club: Man Utd
Transfer Value: £29.5m
Basic Wage: £50k per week
Contract Expires: June 2010
Player Overview
Rooney’s second season at Old Trafford saw his highest goal tally yet, though he contributed little to Man Utd’s League Cup victory, and a metatarsal injury playing against Chelsea ended his season prematurely.
The injury also jeopardised Rooney’s chances of participating at the 2006 World Cup. While Rooney was able to play, he struggled to reach full fitness and couldn’t live up to his strong performances for England at Euro 2004.
You’ll find Rooney has a more central focus compared to FM06. Still primarily a striker, Rooney is now much more effective at AMC with some ability to play on the wing, as opposed to the other way around.
Key Strengths
Rooney possesses a magical First Touch, Mental attributes that put veteran players to shame, and powerful all-round Physical attributes (except Jumping).
Growth Potential
It’s highly unlikely that you’ll see Rooney pick up more than a couple more points across his entire skillset.
How Did He Do IRL?
Check out the FM05 Wonderkid Guide for more on Wayne Rooney.
Theo Walcott
Born: 16th March 1989 (17 years old)
Position: AM R, F C
Preferred Foot: Right
Nationality: England (1 cap / 0 goals)
Current Club: Arsenal
Transfer Value: £5m
Basic Wage: £10k per week
Contract Expires: June 2009
Player Overview
The latest English teenage sensation, Theo Walcott quickly gained national praise in his debut season with Championship side Southampton aged just 16. That success saw a January move to Arsenal, signing a professional contract on his 17th birthday.
Walcott was a surprise inclusion in England’s 2006 World Cup squad but didn’t feature at the tournament. He did, however, become the Three Lions’ youngest-ever senior player after debuting in a pre-tournament friendly.
Primarily a striker, Walcott can also comfortably play on the right wing.
Key Strengths
Despite a lot of attention following his move to Arsenal, Walcott probably isn’t ready for first-team football in the Premier League quite yet. He has reasonable stats in key attributes, such as First Touch and Dribbling, but lacks some refinement around the edges. A loan move back to the Championship, or a relegation contender in the top flight, would do Walcott’s development wonders.
Growth Potential
The pace at which Walcott develops is almost unparalleled in FM07. By the time the game reaches 2011, he will most likely be one of the top players at his club and might have even scored some goals for England! Attributes across all three sections will have grown, especially his Influence and Strength.
How Did He Do IRL?
Walcott quickly established himself as a key Arsenal player, making almost 400 appearances for the Gunners over the next thirteen years. A decline in form in 2017 led to Walcott’s departure, signing for Everton and serving as a reliable veteran player. He returned to Southampton, first on loan and then permanently, in 2020, helping his boyhood club battle against Premier League relegation for three years.
After a slow start to his fledgling international career, Walcott found a mixed reception from new England manager Fabio Capello, this time controversially excluded from the final tournament squad. The next few years saw Walcott establish himself as a more frequent face in the national set up, unluckily missing England’s next two international competitions through injury. Gareth Southgate’s appointment as England manager signalled a focus on fresh faces, leading to the end of Walcott’s international career aged just 28.
Carlos Vela
Born: 1st March 1989 (17 years old)
Position: AM/F C
Preferred Foot: Right
Nationality: Mexico (Uncapped)
Current Club: Salamanca (on loan from Arsenal)
Transfer Value: £2.9m
Basic Wage: £1.3k per week
Contract Expires: August 2011
Player Overview
Though officially an Arsenal player, Carlos Vela is currently unable to play for them due to permit restrictions. As a result, Vela has joined Salamanca in Spain’s second division to gain valuable first-team experience.
An impressive five goals helped Vela claim the Golden Boot as Mexico won the U17 World Championship in 2005.
Vela is a natural attacking threat, whether you’re playing him up front or in the hole as a central attacking midfielder.
Key Strengths
Like Walcott, Vela isn’t ready to feature regularly for a team like Arsenal, so it’s very handy that he’s already out on loan. Vela isn’t going to set La Liga alight in his first season but his high Finishing and Determination should help him pick up a few goals along the way.
Growth Potential
Another rapidly improving player that makes managing Arsenal a tasty prospect! Vela’s Physical attributes explode over the next few seasons, with his Technical and Mental attributes not too far behind. If you keep Vela and Walcott together at the Emirates, expect them to form a deadly attacking partnership with Vela scoring goals for fun.
How Did He Do IRL?
Vela spent two successful years in Spain, first with Salamanca and then Osasuna, before returning to Arsenal after finally being granted a full work permit. However, his playing time was mostly limited to cups and substitute appearances, resulting in an uninspiring goalscoring record for a striker.
After failing to impress on loan at West Brom, Vela returned to Spain, first on loan then permanently, with Real Sociedad. His first few seasons back in Spain were strong, averaging 14 league goals a season, but this began dropping off over the next few years. In 2018, Vela joined MLS newcomers Los Angeles FC as their first-ever designated player as quickly helped the team establish themselves as a top contender in the United States.
After receiving his first international cap for Mexico in 2007, Vela quickly became a regular feature and contributed to their 2010 World Cup qualification effort. But club inconsistency saw him drop out of favour, returning after finding renewed form with Real Sociedad. This return helped Mexico claim the 2015 Gold Cup and secure a ticket to the 2018 World Cup.
More Top Wonderkids on Football Manager 2007
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FM07 offers another 65 affordable yet talented wonderkids for you to sign and develop for many years of in-game success.
| Player | Nationality | Club | Age | Position(s) | Foot | Transfer Value | Basic Wage (per week) | Contract Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angel Bernabe | Spain | Atletico | 18 | GK | RO | – | £90 | June 2007 |
| Babacan Volkan | Turkey | Fenerbahce | 17 | GK | RO | – | £90 | May 2008 |
| Leyrielton | Brazil | Goias | 18 | D/WB/M R | RO | £1.5m | £850 | December 2009 |
| Chico | Brazil | Atletico Parananense | 19 | D RC, WB R, DM | RO | £240k | £325 | August 2010 |
| Nathan Sturgis | United States | Los Angeles | 18 | D RLC, DM | LO | £65k | £800 | December 2007 |
| Gareth Bale | Wales | Southampton | 16 | D L | LO | £1.5m | £90 | June 2008 |
| Ander Garmendia | Spain | Athletic | 21 | D L | LO | £275k | £825 | June 2008 |
| Per Mertesacker | Germany | Werder Bremen | 21 | D C | R | £5.25m | £23k | June 2009 |
| Johan Djourou | Switzerland / Ivory Coast | Arsenal | 19 | D C | R | £3.9m | £8k | June 2007 |
| Felipe (Dias da Silva) | Brazil | Udinese | 21 | D C | RO | £3.3m | £11.25k | June 2010 |
| Karim El-Mourabet | France / Morocco | Nantes | 19 | D C | RO | £1.5m | £1k | June 2008 |
| Hector Moreno | Mexico | Pumas | 18 | D C | R | £1.1m | £2.2k | June 2009 |
| Serrano | Spain | Sevilla | 17 | D C | RO | – | £55 | June 2009 |
| Sebastian Schwabe | Germany | Bielefeld | 14 | D C | RO | – | £90 | June 2010 |
| Eugen Polanski | Germany / Poland | Gladbach | 20 | DM | RO | £3.7m | £10.25k | June 2008 |
| Bocundji Ca | Guinea-Bissau | Nantes | 19 | DM | RO | £2.7m | £3.1k | June 2009 |
| Lucas Biglia | Argentina | Anderlecht | 20 | DM | R | £2.1m | £10.5k | June 2010 |
| Lucas | Brazil / Italy | Gremio | 19 | DM | RO | £2.1m | £1.1k | June 2009 |
| Denilson | Brazil | Arsenal | 18 | DM | R | £1.9m | £5k | June 2011 |
| Francesc Fabregas | Spain | Arsenal | 19 | M C | R | £13.75m | £30k | June 2011 |
| Steven Davis | N Ireland | Aston Villa | 21 | M C | R | £5.25m | £10k | June 2009 |
| Claudio Marchisio | Italy | Juventus | 20 | M C | RO | £2.4m | £5.25k | June 2011 |
| Artur | Spain | Espanyol | 20 | M C | RO | £700k | £475 | June 2009 |
| Ashley Miller | England | West Ham | 15 | M C | RO | £55k | £45 | June 2008 |
| Jorge Inostroza | Chile | Universidad | 16 | M C | RO | – | £45 | December 2009 |
| Karlheinz Jahn | Germany | Stuttgart | 14 | M C | R | – | £45 | June 2009 |
| Jesus Navas | Spain | Sevilla | 20 | AM R, F C | R | £8m | £14k | June 2008 |
| Aaron Lennon | England | Tottenham | 19 | AM R | R | £5.25m | £13k | June 2010 |
| (David) Silva | Spain | Valencia | 20 | AM RLC | LO | £5.5m | £13.25k | June 2011 |
| Salomon Kalou | Ivory Coast | Chelsea | 20 | AM RLC, F C | RO | £4.8m | £18.25k | July 2009 |
| Miguel | Spain | Atletico | 20 | AM RLC | R | £3.9m | £4.1k | June 2010 |
| Jonathan de Guzman | Canada / Holland | Feyenoord | 18 | AM RC | Either | £3.7m | £9.5k | June 2010 |
| Junior Ross | Peru | Coronel Bolognesi | 20 | AM R, ST | R | £650k | £350 | December 2006 |
| Lebohang Mokoena | South Africa | Orlando Pirates | 19 | AM RC, F C | Either | £350k | £1k | May 2009 |
| Salvatore Aurelio | Italy | Genoa | 20 | AM RLC, F C | LO | £250k | £375 | June 2010 |
| Sherman Cardenas | Colombia | Bucaramanga | 16 | AM RC | Right | – | £55 | January 2008 |
| Stewart Downing | England | Middlesbrough | 19 | AM L | Left | £6.75m | £14k | June 2010 |
| Ismael Aissati | Holland / Morocco | PSV | 17 | AM LC | RO | £3.2m | £5k | July 2009 |
| Eder Torrades | Spain | Osasuna | 19 | AM LC | LO | £325k | £140 | June 2009 |
| Raul Garcia | Spain | Osasuna | 19 | AM C | R | £5.75m | £23.5k | June 2009 |
| Diego | Brazil / Italy | Werder Bremen | 21 | AM C | R | £4.1m | £27.5k | June 2011 |
| Joao Diego | Brazil | Vitória | 19 | AM C | R | £275k | £130 | January 2008 |
| Kristian Sarkies | Australia | Melbourne Victory | 19 | AM C | R | £60k | £375 | June 2007 |
| Giovani dos Santos | Mexico / Brazil | Barcelona | 17 | AM C | Either | – | £55 | June 2009 |
| Sergio Aguero | Argentina | Atletico | 18 | AM/F C | R | £15.75m | £90 | June 2012 |
| Kerlon | Brazil | Cruzeiro | 18 | AM/F C | RO | £2.1m | £1.1k | December 2009 |
| Sebastian Giovinco | Italy | Juventus | 19 | AM/F C | RO | £1.7m | £1.6k | June 2009 |
| Fernando Forestieri | Argentina / Italy | Genoa | 16 | AM/F C | RO | £130k | £55 | June 2009 |
| Alberto Bueno | Spain | Real Madrid | 18 | AM/F C | RO | – | £90 | June 2008 |
| Aarón Ñíguez | Spain | Valencia | 17 | AM/F C | R | – | £55 | June 2009 |
| Lukas Podolski | Germany | FC Bayern | 21 | F C | L | £7m | £33k | June 2010 |
| Gianpaolo Pazzini | Italy | Fiorentina | 21 | ST | R | £6.75m | £2.6k | June 2009 |
| Valeri Bojinov | Bulgaria | Juventus | 20 | ST | Either | £6m | £25k | June 2009 |
| Ciprian Andrei Marica | Romania | Shakhtar | 20 | ST | RO | £4.5m | £15k | March 2009 |
| Falcao | Colombia | River | 20 | F C | R | £3m | £1.2k | June 2009 |
| Michele Paolucci | Italy | Ascoli* | 20 | ST | RO | £2.8m | £3.3k | June 2008 |
| Arturo Lupoli | Italy | Derby* | 19 | ST | L | £2.8m | £1.2k | June 2008 |
| Nilmar | Brazil | Corinthians | 21 | ST | R | £1m | £13.5k | June 2011 |
| Hernán Peirone | Argentina | San Lorenzo | 20 | ST | L | £925k | £450 | June 2008 |
| Graziano Pelle | Italy | Cesena* | 20 | ST | RO | £525k | £6.75k | June 2009 |
| Oscar Trejo | Argentina | Boca | 18 | ST | RO | £110k | £190 | June 2009 |
| Sultan Cem | Turkey | Galatasaray | 15 | ST | RO | £70k | £45 | May 2008 |
| Charles-Andre Doudin | Switzerland | Neuchatel Xamax | 19 | ST | R | – | £350 | N/A |
| Raul Torres | Spain | Racing | 16 | ST | RO | – | £45 | June 2010 |
| Jaime Duran | Mexico | Tecos | 16 | ST | RO | – | £45 | June 2009 |
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