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Owen Hargreaves is right, Aston Villa youngster is 'the real deal' and 'has everything'
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- Owen Hargreaves is right, Aston Villa youngster is 'the real deal' and 'has everything'
Johan Manzambi impressed yet again on Saturday as Aston Villa beat Manchester City 2-1.
Nicolas Jackson scored twice for Unai Emery's team, cancelling out Erling Haaland's goal and ensuring the three points remained at Villa Park.
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Manzambi, who arrived from Freiburg in the summer for around £50million, looks to be a remarkable talent.
In just eight games so far across all competitions this season, the 21-year-old has already scored three goals and provided two assists, and there is much more to his displays.
Villa sold Morgan Rogers for £117m to Chelsea in the summer and feared that their star man would be impossible to replace immediately.
But with Manzambi, they look to have done exactly that and will now hope to keep hold of the talent for years to come.
Owen Hargreaves hails Johan Manzambi
Manzambi has shown plenty of quality and and technical ability in his opening weeks at Villa, but Saturday's display was about gritty defending as well.
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The 21-year-old was up and down throughout the game, constantly involving himself in attacks before cutting one out at the other end.
The first half saw Manzambi involved throughout, taking a shot and making a number of defensive contributions.
The midfielder was limited by a yellow card in the second half and was substituted after the hour mark, but undoubtedly left an impression.
Man City struggled to deal with him and fouled the Switzerland international three times - more than any other Villa player.
Manzambi won six of his eight contested ground duels, and won three tackles, two clearances and a recovery.
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Speaking to TNT Sports, Owen Hargreaves could not help but wax lyrical about the talent.
"He's the real deal isn't he Johan Manzambi, in and out of possession. He's got everything," the former midfielder said.
'Barcelona and Real Madrid already looking' at Johan Manzambi - ex-Aston Villa scout Villa summer looking better and better by the day
Not only did Saturday mark a superb display from Manzambi, but for fellow summer arrivals Zion Suzuki, Joao Gomes, Jackson and Ibrahim Mbaye, too.
Jackson netted twice for the home side and was impressive throughout, with Mbaye providing the assist for his second with a rapid breakaway.
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Gomes was solid in midfield and Suzuki was almost unbeatable in between the sticks, making key saves in the final stages.
The likes of Alejandro Garnacho and Taylor Harwood-Bellis are still to prove themselves, but Villa's summer window is ageing very well indeed.
