Brighton football club are the envy of their rivals. They are football’s talent factory. Like Simon Cowell, the man who turned the unknown into global superstars, not a year goes by without them delivering an album of hits. Caicedo to Chelsea. Cucurella now at Real Madrid. Joao Pedro to Chelsea. Trossard to Arsenal. The list goes on. So who is next to prove he has the X-Factor?
Yasin Ayari. The 23 year old Swede with North African blood. Sweden’s standout player at the World Cup, with the highlight being a brace against his father’s nation, Tunisia. And what a brace it was. Two thunderbolts, recorded among the fastest shots in the tournament. Sweden striker Alexander Isak had predicted as much. “I think he’s the kind of player who will have a real international breakthrough here.” He was not wrong. He is a man creating a reel of beautiful goals. In an era dominated by passing the ball into the net, Ayari is a throwback. He is most comfortable sending them home from downtown. Which, let’s face it, is much more box office.
His game has been carved by heritage and shaped by upbringing. A sculpture of North African flair and European discipline. He will put it through your legs and efficiently move it on to a teammate, without the need for an encore. He is versatile, equally comfortable in a deep midfield role or an advanced one. That versatility speaks to his attitude, self-belief and ability. A pleasure to watch, enjoy the hard fought duels, sublime assists, and those thunderous long range strikes that are becoming his trademark.
Ayari arrived at Brighton and was loaned out to Coventry City in the Championship, fighting for minutes far from the spotlight. He had to earn his place in the Brighton midfield through sheer endeavour, and that is no small task. You can tell a lot about a man from his journey and what he is prepared to sacrifice to achieve his goals. And you can learn a lot about Ayari from one of his goals. His first World Cup goal, on the grandest stage in football, he did not celebrate. Instead he dropped to his knees in sujoud, dedicating his achievement to his father’s nation and the heritage that runs through him.
Abruptly switching channels from X-Factor to Bargain Hunt. It is rare that Brighton’s profit making machine malfunctions. But in Ayari they are victims of a technical error. He is out of contract in the summer and therefore will be sold at a discount. I was surprised that Liverpool, Chelsea and Aston Villa, all of whom look light in the middle, did not push for a deal in the window just past. Perhaps, like the most shrewd shoppers, they are waiting for the January sales.
Whether he remains in England or moves to the continent, Champions League football beckons. Now a matter of when not if. There is huge talk of Alex Scott moving for £100 million in January, and he is a fantastic player. But the smart money moves on Ayari at a fraction of the cost. Imagine a majestic Moroccan mosaic that fits seamlessly like IKEA flatpack, with free delivery.