In our next instalment of our Wonderkid series, we’re taking a closer look at an excellent youngster currently lighting up the Belgian Pro League who has been gathering admirers. KRC Genk’s 17-year old phenom Konstantinos Karetsas. Already a full international for Greece, Belgian-born Karetsas may find himself playing in the Premier League before too long, though sadly that is not likely to be at Newcastle United as Arsenal are seemingly circling.
🔬The methodology
As in our previous wonderkid spotlights, we’ve kept it simple for this one, trying to remain positionally agnostic while looking for a core set of metrics:
– Get on the ball a lot
– Progress the ball forward with forward passing or carrying (or both)
– Keep possession well
💎Belgian born Greek-lightning
Typically playing as a 10, drifting between the lines, hugging the touchline of drifting inside from the right onto his favoured left-foot, his numbers are wild for someone so young:
– 5.66 shot-creating actions per 90 (95th percentile)
– 3.18 key passes per 90 (98th percentile)
– 4.42 progressive carries (89th percentile)
– 7.37 crosses per 90 (97th percentile)
– xA: 0.31 (95th percentile)
– Touches: 65 per 90 (94th percentile)
– Carries into final third: 3.8 (98th percentile)
– Ball recoveries: 5.2 (92nd percentile)
Basically, all of this means that he is elite at creating chances for his teammates, he’s key in progressing the ball forward, more through taking his man on and carrying the ball forward as opposed to passing, but when he is in the final third, he usually looks for a cross or a killer ball. He loves to split the lines to make himself available to get on the ball as evidenced by his 65 touches per 90 (94th percentile). He is a natural-born playmaker in the Martin Ødegaard mould as evidenced by his 0.31xA (95th percentile).
📺The eye test
The first thing I noticed is that Karetsas missed his natural calling as an Olympic diver. Seriously, this kid throws himself to the ground more often than Anthony Gordon and it royally pissed me off. He’ll fit in nicely at Arsenal then. However, once I got over the initial annoyance you see a player who clearly has a high IQ, he constantly gets himself into good positions between the lines to receive the ball. Technically secure with a lovely range of passing. Not an explosive burst of pace but is extremely composed in tight spaces.
⚠️*Areas for development*
There are obvious caveats we need to apply when talking about young players, especially young attacking players.
❌Poor shot quality as evidenced by 0.08xG per shot
🛑Despite progressing the ball forward a lot, he also loses the ball a lot
🥱Defensively poor – rarely wins his tackles and never makes an interception
🤕Physically needs to improve, winning only 20% of aerial duels
One would expect these traits to improve as he physically develops and improves his decision-making in respect of shot-taking.
✅ Verdict
Karetsas is very raw but is elite at producing killer balls in the final third which is incredibly hard to find as a natural skill-set. Despite his tender age, he is desperate to get on the ball all the time, and despite losing the ball a lot, he always comes back again and again demanding the ball. That highlights an elite, robust mentality. He comes between the lines to get on the ball, and then seeks to either take his man or split the lines with a cutting pass. While he needs to toughen-up and improve his decision-making, the foundations of an elite AM or maybe even a creative winger are all there. Keep your eye on this one as Arsenal could be getting in early on a real talent.
