Yankuba Minteh, a loanee from Newcastle United, still has to improve his consistency, but the Premier League player’s promise has been undeniably demonstrated by the speed with which he has developed while at Feyenoord.
It can be all too simple to forget that Yankuba Minteh was still playing for Steve Biko FC in the Gambia as recently as 2022.
It has undoubtedly been a significant rise. The teenager joined Newcastle United over the summer thanks to his horrifying performances at Odense Boldklub in Denmark. And Minteh is demonstrating why some had said he was the Gambia’s equivalent to Lionel Messi since he was on loan to the Netherlands.
Minteh has three goals and one assist already for the Eredivisie champions. A regular in Arne Slot’s XI, the 19-year-old shone against Celtic and Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, and tore Ajax apart in a stunning 4-0 Der Klassiker victory in front of a baying Johan Cruyff Arena crowd.
Newcastle United’s Yankuba Minteh shining
“You saw Minteh against Atletico Madrid and against PEC Zwolle,” Martijn Krabbendam, a reporter for Voetbal International, explains.
“He starts very promisingly. At times he is a bit inconsistent. But the boy was still playing on a sand field in Gambia a year and a half ago!”
Minteh, who joined Newcastle in a £6 million deal, is refusing to rule out extending his loan spell at Feyenoord, with the likes of Harvey Barnes, Jacob Murphy, Anthony Gordon and Miguel Almiron likely to remain ahead of him in Eddie Howe’s pecking order.
‘Extremely dangerous’
Feyenoord legend Willem van Hanegem, however, fears that Minteh’s performances may be a double-edged sword. With every dazzling dribble, Minteh only increases his chances of a first-team role at Newcastle in 2024.
He’s been fun to watch for a few games now. With his speed, he is quite dangerous, Van Hanegem tells NOS.
If I were Feyenoord, I might now be hesitant to sign him away from Newcastle United for another season.
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