Next Big Thing In Swedish Football

In recent years, Sweden have not been an elite international team, but they have been a nation which has always had an absolutely world-class player or two. After Zlatan Ibrahimovic, however, the torch is yet to be handed over completely.

Alexander Isak has threatened to break into the elite bracket, and he has the potential to do so as well, but he hasn’t shown that level of consistent goalscoring yet. However, he might soon be usurped by a younger prospect.

Djurgardens IF’s midfielder Lucas Bergvall is just 17 but is already an established senior team player, and is drawing the interest of clubs like FC Barcelona.

He has trained at Manchester United and Feyenoord as a 15-year-old, and the sky seems to be the limit for him.

So, what kind of a player is Lucas Bergvall, and how good can he be?

Player career so far

Bergvall came through the famed academy of IF Brommapojkarna. You might not have heard of that name very often but they have contributed way more to Swedish football than one might think.

Established internationals like Albin Ekdal, John Guidetti, and recently, Viktor Gyokeres all started their careers at the famed club. Bergvall is expected to eclipse the talents of them all.

So impressive was he for their academy, it prompted Djurgardens to spend beyond what they regularly would for a 16-year-old player.

They splashed nearly €1 million to bring him to their club and after just one proper season of senior football, that too at the halfway point, suggestions are that he will become the club’s biggest transfer of all time. Not a bad way to spend €1 million!

In his first full season, he has made 23 league appearances for the first team, scoring two goals and dazzling everyone with his mature play in midfield.

Three appearances in domestic cup competition have also yielded one goal as Bergvall took to senior football like duck to water.

So what kind of a player is he and what skills has he shown that has scouts turning their heads at his name?

Lucas Bergvall scout report

If Barcelona are interested in a 17-year-old midfielder, there are certain skills you can be sure of that the youngster has. Players like Gavi, Pedri, and Pablo Torre has shown that in the past and Bergvall is cut from a similar cloth, but with more physicality in defence.

The first thing that immediately jumps out when looking at Bergvall is how secure he is with the ball. He is always scanning his surroundings and some of the passes he makes in pressure are what you…