Phenoms Taking Their Names Off The Market

By: chris | May 9th, 2008

It’s just the cool thing to do, apparently. Two of the biggest names in world football 25 and under in Samir Nasri and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar were supposed to go up for auction this summer, with The Artist Formerly Knows As G14 with be clamoring to get first in line, blank checks in hand. Or at least that’s what everybody thought was going to happen. It still may, but the chances are dwindling after Nasri signed a contract extension until 2012 and KJH is currently deep in talks to extend his current deal.

Nasri is widely, if not universally, accepted as the true heir to Zinedine Zidane’s throne, despite a new Zizou popping up once a week or so. Conventional wisdom (along with Marca, AS, L’Equipe, etc.) said that he’d be headed to Real Madrid either last summer or the one upcoming. Maybe he still will, but for now, Marseille has locked up a tried and true phenom until 2012, albeit one who has struggled mightily with injuries this season (including meningitis) and hence form. All this means he isn’t assured of a spot in Raymond Domenech’s side (though who is), but that won’t stop him from lighting the world afire for France some day.

Most casual fans have become familiar with Huntelaar’s name over the past few years because Huntelaar apparently translates in English to “goals”. Marco van Baster has become mighty familiar with him as a member of his Dutch senior side, and hopes to become even more familiar with the lad when he takes over as coach of Ajax next fall.

KJH, like Nasri, is wanted by all the big guns. Real, Barca, Chelsea, ManU, Juventus and Roma have all thrown their hats into the ring, and are looking to take him abroad during the summer, something that was looking all but a certainty just a few weeks ago. Not anymore, as it appears KJH is seriously thinking about remaining at Ajax.

New assistant Dennis Bergkamp is also in the fold and, really, who better could a young Dutch striker hope to learn from than Bergkamp and MvB? If his price is in the €25m range now, as reported, and they teach him a thing or two apiece, it damn well may be €40m by the time next summer rolls around (and he’s averaging 7.2 goals per game).

At the very least, the two will assist their clubs in negotiating up a transfer fee. At best, they could be the difference makers for two Champions League clubs next year. Good times for Marseille and, potentially, Ajax fans.