Wenger talks Zelalem’s future and whether he’ll ‘make it’
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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has claimed that former Rangers loanee Gedion Zelalem will have a ‘great career’.
The 19-year-old has had a good start to his career and it’s expected that he will be kept on by Wenger next season to play a small part in the first-team, although it’s dependent on whether or not he can have a good enough impact during pre-season.
The Frenchman was speaking to the media ahead of the Gunners’ second pre-season friendly on Thursday night, which takes place against MLS All-Stars, who will boast the likes of Didier Drogba, Andrea Pirlo and Kaka – some of Europe’s greatest ever footballers, and he confirmed that Zelalem will play a part.
“Last season he was on loan at Glasgow Rangers, where he did quite well. He is a player with top quality. He might take a bit longer to mature because he was physically a little bit behind on body structure but I’m sure he will be a great player. He [matured a bit slowly] physically but overall I’m convinced that he will make a great career. Will he play? Certainly a part of the game as well.”
Zelalem has become a highly-rated teenager and after impressing on loan in Scotland, where he helped Rangers get back to the top division, is likely to play a bit-part role similar to that of Jeff Reine-Adelaide last season.