Who is Mahamadou Susoho? The Man City prospect learning from Rodri
Spanish midfielder Mahamadou Susoho recently made his senior debut for Manchester City against Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League. Born in Spain to Gambian parents, Susoho moved to England at the age of 11 and is fluent in Catalan as well as English. His journey with Manchester City began in 2017. Since then, he has made significant strides in the club’s Elite Development Squad.
Man City’s lead youth-team coach, Brian Barry-Murphy, speaks highly of Susoho, highlighting his “uncoachable” natural talent and versatility in both attacking and defensive roles. Despite enduring injury-plagued seasons, Susoho has shown resilience and skill, notably in his performance against Leipzig’s underage side, where he helped City secure a comeback with a crucial pass.
“I think he’s got really some uncoachable things in terms of how he plays the game, I think he has the natural exuberance that you associate with a creative, attacking player, but he can do the defensive side of the game. He came through the Espanyol Academy, and you can see those trends of high-quality, technical actions.
“He is improving all the time but he has had a few interrupted seasons with injuries and you can see him starting to find his rhythm now and really go into himself and he is progressing well. It’s very competitive in there with himself, Jacob (Wright) and Isiah (Dada-Mascoll)/
Barry-Murphy told the Manchester Evening News.
At 18 years old, Susoho has already transitioned from playing predominantly in the Under-18s to facing senior sides. Some of his senior matches include appearances in the EFL Trophy against teams like Grimsby Town and Bradford City. His ability to adapt to higher levels of competition has been apparent in this season’s European Youth League matches.
Manchester City’s academy has become renowned for nurturing top talent in the last few years. Players like Phil Foden, Romeo Lavia, Cole Palmer, and Rico Lewis, and even more recently, Oscar Bobb, have come through the academy. Susoho has become the latest player to emerge as one of the academy’s standout players. With his performance in the UEFA Youth League win over RB Leipzig, he particularly showed what he was about as a defensive midfielder.
Learning from The Elite
A key aspect of Susoho’s development is learning the nuances of the defensive midfield role, a position where he draws inspiration from Rodri, one of the world’s best in this role. He closely observes Rodri’s defensive tactics and game control, aiming to integrate these elements into his own play.
Besides Rodri, Susoho also learns from other City midfielders like Mateo Kovacic and Kalvin Phillips. He particularly admires Barcelona and Spain legend Sergio Busquets and has shown an interest in the mental side of the game, studying their play to enhance his skills.
Susoho’s background includes a stint at the Espanyol academy, which has contributed to his high-quality technical skills. Despite earlier commitments to England at the under-16 level, he has chosen to represent Spain internationally, participating in the under-17 Euros.
What Kind of Player is Mahamadou Susoho
Susoho has been described as a commanding ball-winning midfielder while also being a tenacious seen as defensive midfielder with an eye for a pass. Mahamadou’s assertive midfield presence has seen him regularly catch the eye at youth level, and he has been rewarded this season by appearing in regular match-day squads.
Susoho continues to improve his skills, particularly in defensive play, with the help of coaches and senior team members. His academy coach described him as “uncoachable” in a positive way due to his natural talent and creativity.
“Yes, my position is Rodrigo’s. I like to watch old videos of Busquets. I also pay attention to Kovacic because of how he controls and moves with the ball . I am more defensive than attacking, but I am not I’m bad at attacking,”
Susoho speaking about his position
Having made his senior debut and being part of the squad for key matches like the Club World Cup semi-final, Susoho is on a path that could see him follow in the footsteps of City greats. His performances in the UEFA Youth League have already proven his ability to excel in high-pressure environments, making him a player to watch in Manchester City’s future.
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