Part of our list of 20 gems to follow during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Yankuba Minteh had confirmed with Gambia that he was going to be the future star of an entire country. Only 19 years old, the dynamic right winger of the Scorpions had shown good things even if his team had been eliminated from the group of death which also included Senegal, Guinea and Cameroon. This interlude past, Yankuba Minteh has not lost his talent, quite the contrary. Possessed for 8 million euros by Newcastle from the Danish club Odense Boldklub after a good season (4 goals and 6 goals in 17 professional matches), the native of Bakoteh was automatically loaned to Feyenoord Rotterdam in order to strengthen his skills. . The opportunity to take on a championship that gives pride of place to youth before trying out the games of the Premier League.
Yankuba Minteh quickly impressed
“I can’t wait to play for the defending champions. It's an honor to wear the Feyenoord jersey. I am grateful for this opportunity and will do everything I can to improve as a footballer. I am sure that Feyenoord will help me achieve my goals, just as I am convinced that I can in turn help Feyenoord in their sporting ambitions., he announced upon his arrival in the Netherlands. Used as a right winger as sometimes a substitute center forward by coach Arne Slot, Yankuba Minteh adapted well with 4 goals and 2 freebies in 18 appearances before the Africa Cup of Nations. His trainer quickly fell under the spell of the African nugget.
“Our scouts were also impressed with his year at Odense. Then Dennis te Kloese (the general director of Feyenoord editor's note) came to the technical staff. Minteh went to Newcastle United and the English were looking for a club to loan him to. That's how he came to us. He certainly doesn't lack confidence. His willingness to give everything is enormous. When you see his stats, it’s really impressive. Minteh runs more sprint meters against Ajax in an hour (match won 4-0 at the start of the season than many other boys do in two matches) explained Arne Slot in an interview for Algemeen Dagblad. Enormous speed, great percussion and raw talent to polish over the months which offered great prospects to Feyenoord.
A takeover at Feyenoord
Alternating between the eleven and impactful entries, the Gambian was also mentioned for a possible return to Newcastle last January following the cascade of injuries from which the Magpies suffered. “We will look at the players on loan. To see if they could potentially strengthen us. If it is also good for their career, then we will certainly look at what we can do. Yankuba Minteh did very well (…) I think his loan period was productive. He scored goals and was part of a successful team. He certainly has talent, although the Premier League is a very different league to any other league in Europe., then blurted out the English technician. Finally remaining with the Rotterdam club, then leaving for the CAN with his country, Yankuba Minteh is not unhappy with this situation. Since his return from Ivory Coast, he has completely taken power with the current second in the Eredivisie.
Returning fairly quickly from the African Cup of Nations, Yankuba Minteh has since established himself as the ideal solution on the right side with Igor Paixao as the left counterpart and Santiago Giménez at the forefront of Arne Slot's 4-2-3-1. Increasingly effective like a double against Almere, a goal against PSV Eindhoven or a double and an offering this Sunday against Ajax Amsterdam during the 6-0 festival, Yankuba Minteh has taken care of his statistics and displays now 10 goals and 4 assists in 32 matches. “Yankuba Minteh especially played a lot in his native country, where very few tactics are developed. If you're that fast, it's a huge weapon. One action and he's gone, so you won't catch him again. I think his choices are already improving in the final phase. The problem for us is that if his choices become really good, he probably won't play for us anymore.”Arne Slot recently confided to the Dutch media Rondo.
Newcastle facing Minteh puzzle, Barça on the lookout
The main person concerned was happy with his progress over the last few months while remaining a perfectionist as he confided to International Voetbal : “I believe a lot in myself, in my qualities. You just have to continue your career, stay focused. There is no point in thinking that everything is happening so quickly. I better be happy about it. Two years ago I played for Steve Biko FC in Gambia and this year I made my debut in the Champions League. Playing at Feyenoord I made my debut in the Champions League, but at the same time I also think maybe I could have shown a little more. Okay, I scored against Celtic and recently against PSV and Heracles Almelo, but also missed chances. I am not easily satisfied.”
“If there is an opportunity to stay one more season with Feyenoord, I will take it, because it is a fantastic club” he also explained while affirming his desire to finally start with Newcastle: “I will soon know what the club’s plans are for me. I'm still young, I have time, maybe they will want to lend me again. I just know that one day I will play in the Premier League. Also in the sights of FC Barcelona which follows his performances, Yankuba Minteh who is called in the country the Gambian Messi also sees himself playing one day with the Blaugrana. “Barcelona, I watched every game with my father. It was the time of Xavi, Iniesta… and Lionel Messi, my idol, the best player of all time”, he said in his interview for the Dutch media. If the path to the top is still long for Yankuba Minteh, the 19-year-old player is getting everyone to agree in the Netherlands.
Author of a double and an assist against Ajax Amsterdam during a 6-0 victory in the Klassieker, Yankuba Minteh was the man of this Sunday. Author of a sublime curling strike, he completely broke the screen. “Yes, I would say so. Today is my day. I think the last match was not good enough from me, but thank God I played well and I am so happy with it. We play as a team, we fight for each other when we lose the ball and we push each other up to keep it that way. I would say it was a great match. It's my quality since I was young (the curled shot, editor's note), I scored a lot of goals like that in Gambia so for me it was a simple goal.he proudly announced to ESPN after the game. The Gambian Messi has not finished surprising his world…
