Premiership New Boys: Gabriel Obertan

Posted by Stan Hughes in Featured Articles, Players, Premiership, Premiership New Boys on August 2nd, 2009 | one response

Turning our attention to the top of the table, next up on the list of exciting new Premiership talent is Manchester United new boy Gabriel Obertan. Sir Alex Ferguson will be hoping the young Frenchman’s performances can help soften the blow of losing the double attacking threat of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez.

Club: Manchester United. (Signed from Bordeaux for £3m in July, 2009.)

Age: 20

The Upside: Pace to burn. The tricky French attacker, hailed as the next Thierry Henry, can play as a lone striker but prefers to terrorize defenses up the wings impressing with his searing speed and vast array of skills.

The Downside: Lack of playing time. Over a three year period at Bordeaux, Obertan managed just 54 appearances with more than 75% of those coming from the subs bench. His return of 3 goals in that same period leaves the Frenchman facing a massive challenge to rid Old Trafford of Ronaldo’s memory.

Pedigree: A former student at the famed Clairefontaine academy, a set-up that’s produced the likes of William Gallas, Nicolas Anelka and Hatem Ben Arfa, Obertan turned professional with Bordeaux in 2006 and has previously been linked with moves to Inter, AC, Chelsea and Arsenal.

International Career: Although yet to make his senior national team debut, Obertan has turned out for France at U-16, U-17, U-18. U-19 and U-21 levels. While his expertly taken goal in an U-21 match against England in March caught the eye of United’s scouts, he’ll be hoping his move to Manchester will put him in contention for a spot in Raymond Domenech’s World Cup squad.