Why you should have Djibril Soumaré on your scouting radar

During the Jürgen Klopp era at Liverpool there was an article written about how Liverpool started scouting many of their players based on physical attributes. Not only was it required for players to have a very good technical base, their physical traits were also just as if not more important in some cases. This is because Klopp & Liverpool wanted to dominate in all aspects of a football match, they wanted to overpower you in every way possible. When you look at the top clubs now in world football many of them have adopted similar principles, with teams pressing high & athleticism being a contributor to teams being able to do that, it's very important that a player can meet these standards.

That is why I'm always intrigued when I see midfield players who are physically dominant because they fit into modern day football, & Djibril Soumaré of Nacional (on loan from SC braga) is one of those players. When watching him play you're immediately drawn to his sheer size, he's currently listed at 6'2, a very commanding presence on the field. He moves incredibly well for his size and is a tough tackler. His size also allows him to get around the field & break up opposition play consistently.

Image highlights Soumaré's detailed passing metrics. Value on the left, with the percentile on the right.

He ranks in the 90th percentile for blocks, aerial %, tackles & ball recoveries. A true defensive midfielder. He's been mostly used as the lone defensive midfielder in a 4-3-3 formation for Nacional this season. His passing percentage currently sits at 80%, there is room for improvement there. As he continues to progress to the next level I believe he will need to add more key passes into his game, more passes that advance his team into the final third. It may not always translate into assists, which is fine, but the pre-assist is where he should be looking to thrive. He's definitely a player to keep track of as he continues to progress