Ibrahim Mbaye

Key strength: Vision and passing

Wide creator

In the unforgiving trenches of a La Liga relegation battle, an 18-year-old phenomenon is writing a story that defies convention. Deportivo Alavés sit 17th in the table—perilously close to the drop zone—yet Ibrahim Mbaye carries the €30 million weight of Europe's attention on his young shoulders. That valuation, astronomical for a teenager at a struggling Basque side, speaks to the visions of grandeur dancing through the continent's elite scouting departments. The Senegalese right winger has already amassed 26 appearances and 1,082 minutes of top-flight football this season—remarkable trust from manager Luis García in a pressure-cooker environment. While his 1 goal and 2 assists might seem modest, they betray his true function: a wide creator whose vision and passing craft unlock doors that Alavés' limited attacking arsenal cannot breach alone. Wearing the #49 shirt, Mbaye glides past opponents with a composure that belies his years, his 73 overall rating already outpacing veteran teammates like Denis Suárez and Mariano Díaz. As Alavés cling to survival with recent form reading WLDDW, Mbaye represents both their present lifeline and their inevitable future departure. The question looming over Mendizorrotza isn't if Europe's giants will come calling—it's whether this teenage prodigy can drag his club to safety before they do.