Not only Bayern Munich, PSG, Borussia Dortmund, Lyon, Villarreal, Valencia and RB Leipzig, but also Inter and Milan; these were the clubs from all over Europe who were in Malmo last night to watch the European Under 21 qualifier between Sweden and Spain. The name in the notebook for all present was Joel Asoro, the Swedish winger of Ghanaian origins who was making his international debut for his country at Under 21 level; a debut which has quickly followed his first taste of Premier League football with Sunderland, the club that took the 17-year-old from Brommapojkarna a year ago.
 

At the beginning of the summer Asoro, who has electrifying speed and a devastating shot, was promoted to the first-team at the Stadium of Light and who played the last 10 minutes of the game against Middlesbrough on August 21. After this game he declared that; “It’s all happened so quickly but now I must continue to learn and work hard because this is only the beginning of my chapter, not the end”.  

Asoro appreciates everything he has in his life and after last night’s game against the Spaniards he was asked if he felt nervous playing in front of so many scouts to which he replied; “It’s not surprise to me that people are watching, it happens all the time at Sunderland. Clearly I’m pleased because it means I’m on the right road but I will continue to do my job and we will see what happens. I cannot start to think about who I may play for in the future, it doesn’t work like that. I will just continue to work hard”. Hard work for the moment then, but there are some European heavyweights waiting in the background including Milan and Inter.

By Marco Demicheli. Adapted and translated by Steve Mitchell