Mbappé in 2015, Camavinga then Cherki in 2019… In recent years, little prodigies have been tumbling down in Ligue 1 with great regularity.
The last one is named Mohamed-Ali Cho, he is a striker at SCO Angers and, like his illustrious predecessors, made his debut in Ligue 1 before his 17th birthday.
At 16 years and 7 months, against Bordeaux on August 30 (0-2).
"I was told to go warm up and when I entered, I was very excited," says the teenager, the first player born in 2004 to play in L 1 and entered that day in the 81st minute.
I was impressed at first, but over time I relaxed.
It just got better and better.
The game is a bit faster, it's true, but I didn't feel overwhelmed.
"
Mohamed-Ali Cho is also the youngest player to line up this season in @ Ligue1UberEats 👍!
👶 The 6 youngest players who have played since D1 ➡ https://t.co/ql3rrHml47 pic.twitter.com/Ybs1lQYHHW
- Ligue 1 Uber Eats (@ Ligue1UberEats) September 1, 2020
Abdel Bouhazama, director of the SCO training center and trainer of the reserve (N2), did not miss a beat of his first performance: "He did not succeed everything but something happened, like every time he plays.
On a ball, he almost reduced the score… He was not afraid of experienced defenders like Koscielny or Baysse.
However, he also showed a form of naivety.
But he will learn the ropes, these matches are learning accelerators.
"
Since the 10 minutes against Bordeaux, Cho has not left the pro Angevin group, a little down for attackers now.
He grabbed 16 minutes in Montpellier (1-4) last week.
Entered in the place of Bobichon after the break this Sunday against Brest (3-2), he distinguished himself by his liveliness and even almost scored (89th).
⏱ 59 '
Mohamed-Ali Cho has been giving his all since coming into play!
# SCOSB29 𝟭-𝟮 pic.twitter.com/I42J3A16lC
- Angers SCO (@AngersSCO) September 27, 2020
Regarding Mohamed-Ali, born in Stains (Seine-Saint-Denis) of an Ivorian father, Ibrahim, and a French mother of Moroccan origin, Samia, the question of the first name deserves to be clarified.
The father wanted a religious reference.
The mother pleaded to honor an Ali present in her ancestry.
“We came to a compromise,” laughs the latter.
On arrival, he wears this first name very well.
"
French striker with two selections with the under 16s… English
The Cho's have spent most of their life in England, he working in the security industry and she in the legal profession.
As a child, however, "MAC" played several seasons at PSG (2011-2015), thanks to a Parisian parenthesis.
When he returned to England with his family, he joined the Everton training center at the age of 11 and cut his teeth there until the age of 16.
He even has two selections with the U 16… English.
At this point, the life of the Cho family (four children aged 23, 21, 16 and 6) has taken an unexpected turn.
Newsletter - Most of the news
Every morning, the news seen by Le Parisien
I'm registering
Your email address is collected by Le Parisien to enable you to receive our news and commercial offers.
Learn more
Solicited from all sides, the young Cho and his parents traveled throughout Europe and were received in very large clubs.
Until an offer from Angers reaches them.
“It was all we wanted for him,” explains the mother.
A place to grow in peace and where its potential is respected.
Because integrating the reserve team from the start is not given everywhere, even impossible in the big clubs.
"
"We are immediately tempted to compare him to Mbappé"
This is how the whole family - the older brother excepted - moved to Maine-et-Loire at the beginning of January, in the wake of the young player, who signed his first pro contract at the beginning of May, until 2023.
Impeccable in French, "MAC" has chosen to continue her schooling in English, by correspondence.
Side football, no need for subtitles to capture the qualities of the left-hander.
“We are immediately tempted to compare him to Kylian Mbappé or Allan Saint-Maximin,” said Bouhazama.
In terms of precocity, I place him in this category of players.
He takes depth or practice in percussion because he is able to dribble.
Since he's been with us, we've been amazed.
We wonder how far he can go.
"