When Yankuba Minteh gets going, it’s difficult to stop him. Manchester United found that out within minutes at Old Trafford last Sunday.
By Ben Bocsák
He burst into the penalty area with the Red Devils’ defenders trailing in his wake and thumped the ball into the back of the net to herald a dream start for Brighton at the ‘Theatre of Dreams.’
By scoring Minteh became the first Gambian player in history to score against Man United adding yet another accolade to what is already an accomplished career for the 20-year-old.
He’s the youngest Gambian to score in the Champions League, the youngest ever to appear in the Premier League and the youngest to appear in the African Cup of Nations.
Minteh has the potential to become one of the best Gambian players since the late Biri Biri, but it didn’t always seem that way.
As a youngster Minteh was labelled ‘The Gambian Messi’ in his homeland after his exploits with Steve Biko FC while playing in Gambia’s top flight.
Minteh attracted the attention of scouts, and he was given an opportunity to prove himself in Europe at Danish side, Odense, but initially he didn’t show enough to get the contract he craved.
“Yankuba came to a trial twice before we signed him. The first time in June 2021 he came for a month,” Ivan Poulsen, the club’s U19 coach explains to FotMob.
“At first, he came with another African player. Yankuba was a very fast player, rapidly fast. But after the first time we still doubted if he was good enough for our environment, so we asked to see him again,” Poulsen says.
In fact, at that time, Poulsen and his recruitment team saw more potential in Minteh’s compatriot:
“After the first trial we were more interested in the other African player, we thought he fit in better, and he was more mature. He seemed a better match.”
But Odense were willing to give Minteh a second chance six months after his initial trial period. He arrived at the club in February 2022, during a cold Danish winter.
“Before the second trial, we gave Yankuba some feedback, some things to work on his technical and his finishing skills and on his attitude,” Poulsen says.
“When he first came here his agent told us he was called the ‘Messi of Gambia’ so he thought he was Messi sometimes. We wanted him to be a bit more down to earth.
“But then he came back with a much-changed attitude, and he had worked on his finishing and technical skills. His first touch in particular he improved very well. After the second period, Minteh was the best player for us, and we decided to sign him.”
Initially, Minteh linked-up with Odense’s U19 team playing under Poulsen but it was immediately obvious he wouldn’t stay at that level for a long time.
“He was very determined to get to the first team,” Poulsen explains.
“After the first match in the U19 league, he scored within 37 minutes with a first time shot and then in the second match, he scored against Brøndby away.
“It was an incredible goal. He scored in a counterattack where he got the ball midway in our own half and he ran like Messi and Maradona past the whole Brøndby team dominating them and then he scored.”
With performances like that, Minteh’s determination to get into the first team would be quickly rewarded.
“After just two appearances we brought him to the first team because he was dominating so much in the U19 league,” Poulsen says.
And Minteh didn’t hesitate making an impact in the first team either.
“He scored the matchwinner on his debut in front of the fans in the last minute against FC København and he ran to celebrate with them,” Poulsen recalls.
“After that he was a fan favourite. He’s the kind of player who cheers with the fans, he gestures to the fans. That’s what the fans like, they like a player who has that liveliness.”
The rest is history, within months Minteh would be spotted by some of Europe’s biggest clubs. His path has taken him to Newcastle and Feyenoord before landing at Brighton in the Premier League.
In England, his start hasn’t been as impressive as in Denmark. After registering the assist for Brighton’s opening goal of the Premier League season, Minteh has been in and out of the side.
But he’s making positive impact. As per FotMob’s data he ranks in the 78.6 percentile for goals per 90 (0.37) and in the 71.8 percentile for assists per 90 (0.25).
He stands out with his ability on the ball completing 2.47 successful dribbles per 90 which ranks him in the 81.6 percentile.
And he is well-suited to Brighton’s counter-pressing game putting in his fair share of defensive duties, ranking in the 94.2 percentile for possession won in the opposition’s final third (1.36 per 90).
“He always gets in situations that is very dangerous for the opponents’ teams. They always had a hard time trying to contain him for a whole match,” Poulsen says.
“Defensively, because of his speed he is very good at capitalising on a mistake.’
A goal at Old Trafford was another important step in his development. He still has a long way to go but Poulsen predicts a bright future ahead.
“He’s such a lovely person. I think he has a huge career ahead of himself. He still visits us, and he said hello. He’s a special character and he lives life very much in his own way.
“His attitude and his personality will shine through. He will be himself. The Premier League is another level, so it’s exciting to follow him,” Poulsen concludes.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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