Salzburg debut: Madjo makes instant impact for Aston Villa
Brian Madjo made a significant impact on his Aston Villa debut, scoring his first goal for the club in a UEFA Super Cup match against Paris Saint-Germain. The 17-year-old striker’s performance in Salzburg showcased his potential, despite Villa’s 2-1 defeat.
Madjo’s debut was long-awaited, coming eight months after his signing. His eligibility was confirmed when the court of arbitration for sport (Cas) upheld Villa’s appeal to register him. This decision allowed the striker to finally wear a Villa shirt in a competitive game, a moment he marked on Instagram by posting, “No distractions, I’m free.”
A Long-Awaited Debut
The journey to Madjo’s debut was protracted due to Fifa regulations concerning the transfer of an “international minor.” Villa signed Madjo for £10m from Metz in January. He was born in Enfield, north London, to Cameroonian parents, but was raised in Luxembourg, where he has played in friendly matches.
Unai Emery, Villa’s manager, was a key proponent of Madjo’s acquisition, pushing for his signing and expressing admiration for the player. Emery had hoped to introduce Madjo towards the end of the previous season. The manager’s high regard for Madjo meant that, unlike many other young players at Villa, a loan move was considered unlikely for the striker, who was brought in as a first-team player.
Madjo joined Villa on his 17th birthday, following Emery’s request for chief scout Alberto Benito to personally assess his talent at Metz. Madjo had made his Ligue 1 debut for Metz at the age of 16 and 217 days last August.
Impactful Performance Against PSG
In the match against PSG at the Red Bull Arena, Madjo demonstrated why Emery was so keen on him. Despite facing one of the game’s top centre-back pairings in Marquinhos and Willian Pacho, Madjo used his raw power and attacking instincts to challenge the defenders. Villa defender Tyrone Mings, who has faced Madjo in training, described him as a “tough person to defend against,” noting his physical presence and high potential.
Madjo’s goal was a volley at the back post, breaking Patrick Kluivert’s 30-year record as the Super Cup’s youngest goalscorer. This moment came after he had previously bulldozed Pacho to create an opportunity for Emi Buendía. His performance included excellent holdup play and formidable strength, as noted by teammates.
Before scoring, Madjo had created several significant chances, with some reports suggesting he could have scored multiple goals in the first half alone. Despite missing earlier opportunities, he maintained his composure and eventually found the net. Mings praised Madjo’s character, highlighting his patience during his waiting period and his mental resilience in dealing with setbacks.
Madjo’s performance also included holding off Marquinhos to earn a free-kick and displaying good hold-up play to set up John McGinn. He departed the match after 72 minutes to a standing ovation from the travelling Villa supporters, having registered 27 touches and six shots, culminating in his memorable strike.
Looking Ahead
Madjo’s debut follows a strong pre-season where he scored five goals, with only Chelsea’s João Pedro outscoring him among Premier League players. Teammate Matty Cash commented on Madjo’s pre-season form, stating, “All pre-season he has put his body around and scored goals.”
The young striker is expected to continue his development, with Mings suggesting that watching players like Ollie Watkins, who is known for his work-rate, will aid Madjo’s progress. Watkins, who has consistently reached double figures in top-flight seasons, is set to return to training this week. Madjo also has experienced strikers like Tammy Abraham around him from whom to learn.
Villa are preparing for their final friendly against Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday before starting their league campaign at Brighton a week on Sunday. For Madjo, his debut marks what feels like just the beginning of his career with Aston Villa.
Source: theguardian.com