PARIS, Feb 19 — Six-year-old Madin Mohammed has been tipped to become the new Zinedine Zidane after he attracted the attention of top-level talent scouts with his football skills.
The youngster, whose quick moves and skilfull ball control are reminiscent of the former French striker, has already been signed up to a scholarship by the national football association in France.
Video clips of his performances have already become a hit on the Internet, attracting hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube.
Chelsea and Real Madrid are among the clubs said to be keeping tabs on his progress.
The boy's family moved to France from Algeria when he was three, while French football legend Zidane was born in France to Algerian parents.
Christian Lazaoui, president of Roubaix, Madin's local club, told The Sun: "He has an amazing talent. He plays every day and has a great passion for football.
"He can cross the ball, control it, swerve, pass between the legs — he is spectacular with the ball... he really is magic with it."
The Internet footage has been shown on French national television.
Scouting for talent has been an increasingly important part the future financial success of Europe's top level football clubs ever since Sir Matt Busby's young Manchester United side won acclaim in the 1950s.
David Beckham attended one of Bobby Charlton's football schools in Manchester while fellow England player Theo Walcott played his first professional game for Southampton at the age of 16. — The Daily Telegraph