At 15, he shone alongside Neymar in a Nike video that went around the world. Ten years later, Hachim Mastour signed Virtus Verona, a modest Italian third division club. The trajectory is as steep as it is unsuccessful. He said to be intended for European heights, presented as “the best talent in the world” by the specialized press, is now evolving in the anonymity of the lawns of Serie C. Back on a flight flight, crushed by the drifts of a football which makes icons faster than it builds them.
Masour, the child who was worth 10 million views… for nothing?
It had however started in gold. At 14, AC Milan spent 2.1 million euros to snatch it from Reggiana, ahead of Ajax, Barça or Manchester City. He appears in the Guardian Top 50 of 2012, explodes on YouTube in a freestyle video stamped Red Bull (10 million views), and rubs shoulders with Kaka, Robinho or Balotelli in Milanello. The world seems to belong to him. Except that very quickly, the buzz takes over the ball. Placed under the spotlight continuously, Masour becomes a marketing mascot, more filmed than training, more awaited on Instagram than on the green rectangle.
AC Milan, too in a hurry, does not offer it any real development plan. Result: a loan to Malaga for 5 short minutes played, another in Zwolle for 6 matches, and breaks in series. After being released by the Rossoneri, the player begins a long wandering: Lamia, Reggina, Carpi, then two Moroccan clubs, without ever convincing or lasting. Its out -of -ball gaps, its low endurance and its lack of tactical impact systematically return to the table. A Milanese ex-coach sums it as follows: “He lived for the highlights. »»
Of a viral prodigy to ghost of football: the story of Hachim Mastour
The ex-milan-acted is trying to relaunch … in semi-pro
Today, at 25, he tries to rekindle the flame in an antipodes of glamor. Virtus Verona welcomed it with a semi-pro contract (around 3,000 euros monthly) and a clear warning: no star, no ego. Coach Luigi Freschi warned him: “Here, if you don't run, you go out.” Master, he says he wants “Find your smile” Before thinking of Serie B. But the ex-internet star arrives with a heavy past. Stepped sponsors, family income engulfed in private preparers, and a trial still in progress against an ex-agent.
His case recalls that of Ødegaard, another star early publicized, but who was fortunate to be on intelligent and accompanied. The story of Mastour is a brutal lesson for a whole generation of “Wonderkids”. The networks create stars in 24 hours, but only the terrain decides that shines for good. If he finally pierces in Serie C, Masour will sign one of the greatest underground returns of modern football. Otherwise, there will remain the living symbol of too much of a football to label … and too slow to train.
