Manchester | Latest News & Updates | BBC News (original) (raw)

Mike Minay
BBC Radio Manchester reporter

Image source, Getty Images

He comes across quite shy and timid, but there's a strong talent within those young German legs.

Farid Alfa-Ruprecht, 18, moved to Manchester City from Hamburg's academy in the summer of 2022 and this season has stepped up from the under-18s to the Elite Development Squad (EDS).

After scoring two goals in his last game for the academy, he is now preparing to take on Inter Milan in the Uefa Youth Champions League.

And one day, he wants to be THE name of the Champions League.

When speaking to BBC Radio Manchester he was keen to point out that he wanted to be "Farid first" but he didn't hide from comparisons to first-team winger Jeremy Doku and ambitions of being as good as Kylian Mbappe.

"Be my own version," he said. "The best version I can be. Just play my game and learn every day from first-team players.

"It's definitely a good feeling to bring the defender thinking 'what can I do next', and just humiliate him!"

And that's what Doku does, right? The burst of pace, the darting inside and out, getting to the byeline and even contributing to the goals.

"It's just the mindset of when something doesn't go right, go again and go again," he said when talking about what he admires of the Belgian.

"Eventually you will get in and score or assist - that's why everyone is talking about him."

Alfa-Ruprecht is now into his third season at the club.

"The coaches have really helped me, the players have helped me to settle in," he added.

"I've improved a lot and I'm looking to improve more and get into the first team."

Listen to Total Sport on BBC Radio Manchester every weeknight at 18:00 and listen to every Manchester City game - home and away - live on BBC Radio Manchester.