Lesley Ugochukwu is the latest in a long line of prodigious Stade Rennais FC youngsters, and looks as promising as any who have gone before him after keeping Neymar Jr. quiet against Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday.
Rennes are not shy to blood youth. Eduardo Camavinga became the youngest in Ligue 1 Uber Eats history when he made his debut against Angers SCO in April 2019 just four months past his 16th birthday, and fellow teenagers Jérémy Doku and Adrien Truffert have joined him in the average starting XI this term under first Julien Stéphan and then Bruno Génésio.
Ugochukwu looks like he could follow them into the first-team on a full-time basis after an impressive first start against PSG. Ligue1.com takes a closer look at a prodigious midfielder operating beyond his years, on and off the field…
Back story:
Born in Rennes to Nigerian parents in March 2004, Ugochukwu is the nephew of former OGC Nice, Rennes and Nigeria centre-back Onyekachi Apam, who hung up his boots in 2014 after an injury-hit spell with the Seattle Sounders in Major League Soccer.
Ugochukwu's parents stayed in Brittany after Apam took his career to the USA, and the youngster was in the fabled Rouge et Noir academy from the age of eight. Originally a defender in an age group which included Camavinga, Ugochukwu first followed his teammate into midfield, and then into the first team, making his full debut in April's 5-1 win over Dijon FCO.
Style of play:
Already 1.88 metres-tall with still some growing to do, Ugochukwu uses his timing and balance as much as his physical stature to dispossess opposition attackers, normally from the base of his side's midfield.
Still capable of playing centre-back but with an eye for goal going forward, Ugochukwu has been compared to FC Nantes, Olympique de Marseille, AC Milan, Chelsea and France legend Marcel Desailly by his academy coaches.
Current campaign:
Ugochukwu only got the final few minutes of Rennes' thrashing of Dijon in Round 34, replacing Steven Nzonzi to make his Roazhon Park bow just one month past his 17th birthday.
That may have seemed like anecdotal playing time, but when Nzonzi and Camavinga were suspended for Rennes' clash at home to champions PSG on Sunday, Ugochukwu was thrown into central midfield from the start. He held his own, too, as Génésio's side drew 1-1.
Watch: Highlights of Rennes' 1-1 draw with PSG
What they said:
"He was born in the hospital at La Sagesse, not far from the training centre. His parents came to Rennes when Apam was there. He's a very well-educated young man, surrounded by good people, and he never gets ahead of himself."
- Former Rennes academy director, Landry Chauvin.
"It's a shame there was a penalty [which Neymar scored] before half-time because the team was in good shape. We had a few chances. But it happened and we have to accept it. We remained mobile and it paid off. We had a good reaction in the second half and the game didn't get away from us. We can be proud of ourselves."
- Ugochukwu, sounding like a veteran, after the PSG draw.
