Brian Madjo needed only 17 minutes to change Aston Villa’s outlook for the forthcoming season.
In that time he bullied Willian Pacho, one of the best markers in the world, and gave Marquinhos a fright, too. He had six attempts on goal and scored perhaps the most difficult, a far-post volley after outmuscling Pacho. Against Paris Saint-Germain, that would be a fair night’s work for any centre-forward. For a 17-year-old making his competitive debut, it made the world sit up and take notice.
Even though they won the Super Cup, PSG were some way short of peak condition. Yet PSG are still PSG. For Madjo to make an impression like that was highly impressive and Daily Mail Sport understands he is leading the race to start the Premier League opener at Brighton on August 23, with Ollie Watkins not due back with the squad until this weekend.
Yet Madjo and fellow youngster George Hemmings, who was perhaps even more impressive, have lifted the mood around Villa Park.
Though supporters trust Unai Emery completely, they are frustrated at UEFA financial rules that have effectively forced them to sell Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans and Lucas Digne.
With Ezri Konsa also a target for Arsenal and Emi Martinez and Ollie Watkins returning to training only this weekend, there was creeping apprehension among some sections of the fanbase. For one night in Salzburg, Madjo’s performance blew that away.
Brian Madjo needed only 17 minutes to change Aston Villa’s outlook for the forthcoming season
He shrugged off the Paris Saint-Germain backline to fire in a euphoric equaliser for Aston Villa in the Super Cup on Wednesday night
What do his team-mates think?
Madjo joined Villa for £10million in January but his registration was initially blocked. The teenager is a Luxembourg international and FIFA’s regulations forbid overseas transfers of players under 18.
Yet Villa got the ruling overturned on appeal and Madjo, born in Enfield, north London, was cleared to play for them earlier this summer. Skipper John McGinn posted ‘English player allowed to play in England #freemadjo’ on his Instagram account – a sign of how well respected Madjo has become among the first-team squad.
‘He has obviously had to be very patient until he could play,’ said Tyrone Mings. ‘So, I think that says a lot about his character. He is very young and very strong. Clearly, mentally he is able to deal with setbacks.
‘He’s a tough person to defend against. I think he is about 100kg (15st 11lb). He is a big old boy! He has got a very high ceiling. He is very difficult to play against.
‘He has trained with us for a long time. So when he eventually got his chance to play, he was ready. He knew our system, he knew how to press. I presume he watched a lot of Ollie Watkins and understood how we play. I’ve had a few chats with him in terms of what he’s about to go into.
‘I think the manager is big on what we do off the ball, probably more than what we do on the ball. Ollie’s a great person to watch, because of his work-rate and what he brings to the team.’
McGinn added: ‘He has been through a lot. He’s not been able to play for six months to a year and he’s handled that amazingly. He’s kept himself in good shape. It would have been very easy for him to put his head down after those missed chances, but good strikers get themselves in those positions, and he’s going to be a big player for us this season.’
He bullied Willian Pacho, one of the best markers in the world, and gave Marquinhos a fright, too, in the course of having six attempts on goal
Madjo scored twice in the first game of pre-season, a 5-0 win at Walsall last month, and also found the net against Real Sociedad and the Indonesia All Stars
Along with George Hemmings, who was perhaps even more impressive against PSG, Madjo has significantly raised the mood for Villa fans heading into the new season
What happens next?
Spotting the potential in Madjo and Hemmings, Emery deliberately loaded Villa’s pre-season schedule with fixtures. PSG were their seventh opponents of the summer programme, which Villa will complete against Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday.
Emery wanted his younger players to grow accustomed to his style and tactical demands and on the evidence of the Super Cup, he was spot on.
Madjo has now scored five times in pre-season, with a brace against Walsall in the first friendly before also finding the net against Real Sociedad and the Indonesia All Stars.
Madjo’s rise makes it even likelier that Villa will listen to offers for Tammy Abraham between now and September 1, even though they paid £18million for the former England striker only seven months ago.
Daily Mail Sport understands Villa continue to track Nicolas Jackson and could still move in the closing hours of the window, though perhaps Madjo’s displays will make Emery wonder whether he needs two more forwards to compete with the 17-year-old.
Daily Mail Sport understands that Madjo is leading the race to start the Premier League opener at Brighton on August 23
Even though he has represented Luxembourg three times, they were only friendlies, meaning Madjo is clear to play for England, who he four goals in nine games for at Under-17 level
Even though he has represented Luxembourg three times, they were only friendlies, meaning Madjo is clear to play for England. Expect him to be chosen for the forthcoming age-group squads.
He is remarkably strong for his age and loves a physical duel. Yet – quite understandably – there is work to do, particularly on his touch. The good news is that Emery has an outstanding track record of improving strikers and Madjo could not be in better hands.
As he prepares his team to meet Villa, you suspect Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler will hurriedly be making plans to contain this hugely exciting teenager.
