Zaire-Emery and Bardghji made their UCL debuts at the age of 16!

On Tuesday, in the fifth matchday of the Champions League group stage, we watched the debuts in the top Euopean competition of promising young footballers, real gems who, at just 16 years of age, already know what it is like to play in front of the eyes of Europe. 

We are talking about Paris Saint-Germain's Warren Zaire-Emery and Copenhagen's Roony Bardghji. The former came on in the 79th minute of the clash against Maccabi Haifa, a game that ended 7-2 in favour of the Parisians. The young Swedish player's debut was a little more bitter, as he was given playing time after the hour mark but saw his side eliminated from the Champions League with a 3-0 defeat to Sevilla. 

But beyond the result, both have already made history in the UCL, as Zaire-Emery, at 16 years and seven months, has become the youngest PSG player to make his debut in the Champions League. Bardghji, meanwhile, at 16 years and eleven months, is already the youngest Swedish player to make his debut in Europe's top competition. 

Zaire-Emery has been in PSG's youth set-up all his life and has only this season been given first-team minutes, having already made a total of four appearances for the club: three in Ligue 1 and one more in Europe. Bardghji has a little more experience in professional football, as he has been a regular in the first team since last season, when he made 15 appearances. This term, he has already made eight. 

 

October 25, 2022