Hamidou Makalou - Scout Report MAKALOU

Hamidou Makalou (2006), the offensive midfielder that showed up well in the recent U-17 World Cup.
Hamidou is a great midfielder that likes to create chances. He is constantly looking to create good plays in half spaces or in the line, being able to play as a number 8 or in both wings, although I think that can be more confident playing as a number 8, specially in the opposite side.
He tries to play through balls to the box or to the final third, with a decent rate in his long and short passes. Besides that, I think that he showed also a good shooting rate outside the box, and even when he enters to the box, he managed to shot very quickly and with good rate.
I have my doubts in the defensive phase, but he is too young and can improve his pressing rate in his recoveries after a failed tackle. He sometimes tries to press too high and leave spaces in the midfield line.
He has good understanding of the high pressing, but can improve his strength to win the 1v1 duels both attacking and defense. He also needs to improve his timing to carry the ball and to not carry too much the ball in some occasions, specially in numerical disadvantage.