Anticipating the movements of other players is a gift for every footballer. Some have a “superpower” to understand what is going to happen and gain an advantage thanks to this ability. For a midfielder, this is golden. Adri Mehmeti is the best example of this and he is only 17 years old. He receives the ball, looks and decides. That's it.
Without having to run much and so naturally that it leaves you speechless. Just like Sergio Busquets once did, the player Mehmeti is now being compared to is excelling in the elite of American soccer.
This is what the well-known Spanish media outlet, "Mundo Deportivo", writes about footballer Adri Mehmeti, who has already made his debut for the United States of America. He played as a substitute for a few minutes in the friendly match on September 26, won 4:1 against Peru.
On Wednesday, Mehmeti made his first start for the U.S., playing 62 minutes in a 4-2 friendly win over Chile. And he's gaining the trust of coach Mauricio Pochettino.
With roots from Albania, Mehmeti played in three games for the U15 age group of the "red and blacks". He then joined the USA.
He joined the New York Yankees youth team as a seven-year-old and now plays with the New York Red Bulls adult team.
"Filled with the energy of the drink that gives his club its name, Mehmeti not only didn't knock, but he stormed inside," wrote "Mundo Deportivo."
Mehmeti made his MLS debut against Orlando City on February 22 of this year. Since then, he has been an undisputed starter. He plays as a midfielder in front of the defense, orchestrating the play, but sometimes even going as far as the opponent's dangerous zone.
It's not his job to score goals and he has only scored one goal so far. But it's not an ordinary goal. It was against Lionel Messi's Inter Miami. After coming on in the 77th minute, he equalized the score at 2:2 and secured a point for his team in a match against one of the best players in history.
Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Manchester City, Dortmund and Leipzig are already interested in Mehmet.