Scout Report: John Guidetti

Every week I will be analysing the future stars of football from leagues around the word. If you have any suggestions, feel free to email me at krishm91@gmail.com, and as always please leave your thoughts in the comments box below. Enjoy!

John Guidetti

(Manchester-City):

John Alberto Fernando Andres Luigi Olof Guidetti, or just John Guidetti to the average man, has been regarded as one of the brightest talents to come out of Sweden for a few years now, and hopes remain that he will one day fill the boots of a certain Zlatan Ibrahimovic (no pressure). The 21 year old began his football career at the Swedish club BP, but moved to Kenya with his family at the age of 10 and joined the academy of Impala BrommaBoys. After four years in Kenya and a stint back in Sweden with BP, Guidetti signed for Manchester City at the age of 16, who battled against the likes of Roma, Inter Milan and Lazio for his signature.

Guidetti enjoyed a good first season with the under-18 side, netting 13 times in as many appearances, before eventually going out on loan for a third spell with BP. The youngster returned to Manchester, at this point managed by Roberto Mancini and joined the senior squad on their tour of the USA, making his first-team debut against Sporting Lisbon. After a short spell at Burnley and confusion over a potential move to and consequent legal dispute with FC Twente, Guidetti signed a 3 year contract with Manchester City on the 19th July 2011 (and further extension a year later).

However, the youngster really shot to prominence during his loan spell with Feyenoord in 2011-12. His goal against NAC Breda on his debut was a sign of things to come, and the starlet netted 20 times in 23 appearances (as well managing 8 assists) and became the first player at Feyenoord to score three hat-tricks in a season since Dirk Kuyt in 2004/5. In fact his stats may have been even more impressive if it wasn't for a mystery virus which caused him to lose all feeling in his right leg.

The 21 year old has been compared to former Man City team-mate Mario Balotelli, sharing the same strong physical frame, with Guidetti just one inch shorter, at 6' 1''. Similarly to Balotelli, the Swede also possess pace, strong technical ability and can score goals with both feet. He often leads the line, but picks the ball up on the edge of the area and shoots early. As the above highlight video shows, Guidetti also shares one more of the Italian's qualities- his coolness from the penalty spot, having converted nine times from the spot whilst on loan at Feyenoord. However, unlike the fiery Italian, Guidetti seems to possess a much strogner sense of maturity, and has attributed his success to playing with older children in the slums in Kenya. Guidetti has also set up his own charity (The John Guidetti Foundation) and visited his old club to provide them with equipment, but remains humble thanking God and pushing his former team mates to work hard and focus in training in order to succeed in the cut-throat European leagues (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wq8-dksPL6E). 

Of course it will be difficult for the youngster to break into the Manchester City team, particularly since the arrivals of Stevan Jovetic and Alvaro Negredo, yet if he can fully recover from his injury and continue his scoring record, whether that be in the reserves or in another loan spell, there is a chance for the Swede to see more first team action. If he does not see his future in Manchester, there will certianly be plenty of clubs itching to sign him once his contract expires in 2015. John Guidetti is a name to look out for and Sweden may have another great striker in their ranks to follow the likes of Henrik Larrson and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.