Why Jarell Quansah’s verdict on Rio Ngumoha should excite every Liverpool fan
Talk of the Ballon d’Or never really goes away, but it has picked up fresh energy in recent weeks. Harry Kane lifting the trophy a fortnight ago ended a long English drought, making him the first player from these shores to win it since Michael Owen did so in a Liverpool shirt in 2001.
Whenever the prize changes hands, the conversation quickly moves on to who comes next. Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe are the obvious names for the coming years. The more intriguing question is who leads the generation after them.
A teammate’s view carries real weight
That question was put to Jarell Quansah and Ben White while both were away on international duty, and the answer from the former Liverpool centre-back will have put a smile on plenty of faces around Anfield.
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Speaking to BBC 5 Live Sport on TikTok, Quansah was careful not to heap too much pressure on anyone, but he did not hesitate when it came to naming Rio Ngumoha as the standout talent. He explained that he had shared a training pitch with the winger many times at Liverpool, and that the sharpness and speed of the youngster was the first thing the senior players picked up on when he arrived. Quansah also pointed to the bravery Ngumoha shows in one-on-one situations, and said he has the potential to reach that very top level.
That matters. This is someone who has seen Ngumoha up close every day, not through highlight reels. Now 18, the winger joined from Chelsea at 15 and has already made English football take notice. He is not the finished article, but the raw materials are obvious.
Arsenal’s picks add some context
White, asked the same question, looked closer to home. He started with Bukayo Saka before pausing to wonder whether, at 25, his Arsenal teammate still counts as young in football terms. He praised how Saka keeps adding to his game and said nobody else has quite the same mentality.
That will raise eyebrows given Saka’s subdued campaign so far.
His more convincing answer was Max Dowman. White described what the teenager is doing at Arsenal as “unheard of” and said he would happily put money on him, before adding that he can only imagine how good Dowman will be by the time he reaches 20 or 21.
Our take on the next generation
For us, Ngumoha and Dowman look like the two names English football will argue about for the next decade. Turning domestic dominance into global standing is a much bigger leap, and plenty of gifted teenagers have stalled on the way.
Still, when a player who trained alongside him singles out Ngumoha above everyone else, it tells you the hype at Liverpool is rooted in something real. Our job as supporters is to stay patient, let him grow, and enjoy the ride.
More: Liverpool FC News →