This is the latest feature in our series counting down French football’s 20 hottest properties, those most likely to feature in elite clubs’ 2023 transfer plans. Look out for the next player tomorrow and follow the run down in full here on GFFN.
Football is ever-evolving. Tactics, formations, philosophies and even positions continuously change. In the modern game, where dominant teams expect defenders to be a creative presence and provide forward impetus, full-backs have become one of the most vital, and most entertaining, cogs in the machines deployed by the world’s best coaches. Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, João Cancelo of Manchester City and Achraf Hakimi at PSG, are some examples of the modern game’s elite full-backs, and every elite club is on the lookout for the next example.
Lyon’s Malo Gusto could be just that. At just 19, he has all the makings of a top-level full-back. It’s hardly surprising that such a talent was produced in Mezieux, the home of Lyon’s prolific academy, and L’Équipe reported that Barcelona were admirers of the France under 21 international this summer, but Lyon stood firm. What makes Gusto so sought after is his ability in both the attacking and defensive thirds, enabled by his impressive athleticism.
Click Here: nrl league merchandise
Gusto is often required to cover the whole right flank throughout a game. Some players are criticised for being reliant on physicality to excel but this is far from the case with Gusto. Lyon’s former captain and fellow right-back, Leo Dubois, was often criticised for this and the French international was almost forced out of the club, eventually joining Galatasaray, due to Gusto’s fast track to the first team.
Most striking is the Lyon academy graduate’s attacking intelligence, while Gusto’s passing range and effectiveness is paralleled by very few in his position. Crossing is key for a modern full-back and Gusto has an impressive knack for creating dangerous situations for opposing centre-backs. He’s currently in the top 1% of full-backs for crosses into the penalty area from across Europe’s leading five leagues over the last year, according to FBRef.
Elite modern full-backs are specialists in their teams and their systems. Alexander-Arnold is Liverpool’s progressive and creative passing chief while Hakimi has the awareness and ability to complement PSG’s attacking trio as the spare man, allowing the Moroccan to score a freakish amount of goals for a full-back. Gusto has this same effect, but in a different capacity. OL left-back Nicolás Tagliafico’s experience makes him the safety net at the back for young centre-back Castello Lukeba and his partner, meaning Gusto has the freedom to roam the right flank and be the spare man out wide, picking up more inverted positions while finding the free man in the area.
Before Laurent Blanc arrived at Lyon to replace the sacked Peter Bosz, the 19-year-old was producing 1.4 key passes per 90 minutes and completed three balls into the penalty area per 90, fantastic numbers for a right-back. His passing is impressive, although not on the same level of that of Alexander-Arnold but, at just 19, the Frenchman has plenty of time to develop this area of his game.
Modern-day full-backs are often criticised for not being as complete defensively as traditional full-backs, whose primary role was to defend. Despite sometimes being caught out of position and occasionally guilty of naïve defending, this part of Gusto’s game makes for a rather promising viewing. He completes almost five tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes and is a pressing machine when it comes to winning the ball back, providing 18 active pressures per game under Bosz, a large number occurring in the final third.
Given his form, potential and current ability, there are lots of options for Gusto. Barcelona and Bayern Munich have been looking for the next Dani Alves or Phillip Lahm for years without any real success and Real Madrid’s Dani Carvajal isn’t getting any younger. Gusto could soon be the obvious target.
The main attraction for all interested parties is Gusto’s youth and, despite being established at OL and in Ligue 1, he’s yet to gain a reputation across Europe, which could make him a cheaper option than other more established full-backs. Nevertheless, Gusto is best served by continuing his development at Lyon for the foreseeable future, but it wouldn’t be a shock to see an established European giant make a move for him as the search for elite full-backs continues.
Liam Wraith