Arsenal
recently signed four-year-old Zayn Ali Salman after his dazzling performances
and Instagram fame caught the Premier League side's attention
They say if
you're good enough, you're old enough - and that's certainly the case for Zayn
Ali Salman.
The
five-year-old Arsenal fan, has gained more than 7,500 followers
on Instagram thanks to his incredible
skills - with some dubbing him "Little Messi ".
He
currently plays against kids as old as nine and has received offers from
several big clubs, with claims he signed with Arsenal at the age of just four
having been involved in their development setup.
But Arsenal
denied they have already snapped him up before he reaches the Under-9s level
where they famed Hale End Academy begins.
A club
spokesman told The Sun: “At his current age, Zayn is not
part of the official Arsenal Academy. He is currently enjoying football
sessions at the West London Development Centre, one of the development centres
that we run across London, providing local and fun football sessions for
Under-6 to Under-8 year olds.
“The
youngest age group at the Arsenal Hale End Academy is the under-9 age group.
“Our
mission to be the most caring and challenging football academy is reflected in
the way we develop our young people.
‘’The priority
is to ensure that any child or young person attending the development centres
or our Hale End Academy enjoys their football, with a focus on their all-round
development and wellbeing.”
Zayn Ali's
old coach Austin Schofield recently told BBC News: "We put him with kids of his
age - with the four, five, six year olds - and already he was just head and
shoulders above everyone. Just a lot quicker than them and a lot more willing
to go and get the ball. The way he kicks the ball, the way he passes the ball
was so much better than everyone else. So then we progressed him on. I spoke to
his dad and he wanted to try him with the older ones. So I thought, 'Why not?
See how he gets on.'"
Zayn Ali's
footballing ability caught Arsenal's attention and he was signed by his boyhood
club, where he's continued to progress.
Arsenal
talent scout Stephen Deans added: "This kid is doing something that he
shouldn't be doing. The way he's striking the ball, it just looked too sharp
for someone of that age.
"So I
called my friend and he just said, 'Look, he's four.' And I said, 'No way he's
not. He can't be in nursery. I need to speak to his parents.'
"And from there, now we're here. We brought him into a few of our sessions, as well, and he's actually been doing it in real time, so it wasn't a one off. He's been doing it consistently."
Zayn Ali's
father knew his son was special, continuing: "I realised the moment he was
born.
"I
remember the nurse put him on his stomach and he literally lifted his head up
and started looking around. Even she was shocked.
"You
could tell he was very strong from a very young age and, yeah, that kind of set
the tone for his upbringing.
"You
could kind of see that he was different from all the other kids. And I think
what really stood out what his balance, he had unbelievable balance from a very
young age."
