Young Brits Abroad: Rabbi Matondo

Name: Rabbi Matondo

Current Club: Schalke 04

Age: 20

Position: Winger

Club Football: Schalke 04

Rabbi Matondo began his career in the youth set up of Cardiff City’s academy before moving to Manchester City.

Matondo made his debut for Manchester City’s under-21 side in an EFL trophy match against Rotherham in August 2017. He scored his first goal for the under-21 side in a 2-1 defeat to Bradford City. He scored two more goals in the following season’s EFL trophy, with goals against Tranmere Rovers and Barnsley.

In January 2019, Matondo left the Manchester side to move to Schalke 04, for a fee of around £11 million. He made his debut in February 2019 against Borussia Möchengladbach, when he came on as a sub in the 75^th minute. He was given his first start for the side against SC Freiburg on 16^th February 2019.

Matondo scored his first goal for the side in 3-1 victory against RB Leipzig in September 2019. His second goal came against Vfl Wolfsburg in a 4-1 defeat.

International Career:

Matondo was eligible to play for DR Congo, England and Wales at international level and played for England under-15’s. He switched allegiance at under-17 level and made his debut for the Welsh under-21’s in September 2017, in a 3-1 victory against Lichtenstein. He made his first start for the under-21’s in a 1-1 draw with Georgia in June 2018.

Matondo received his first senior call up for Wales for a friendly against Albania in November 2018. He made his debut coming on in the 78^th minute. Matondo made his first start against England in October 2020.

Playing Style:

Matondo is predominately a winger but has also been used as a second striker in his career. He is a technically good footballer, with an impeccable first touch and is comfortable dribbling with the ball. His strengths are his ability to retain possession while dribbling because due to his technical ability.

He also possesses an impressive turn of pace, which is useful to get behind opposition defences. When Matondo combines his pace with his ability to carry the ball effectively, it is for hard the opposition defence to stop him.

Matondo will want to improve his contribution in the final third and will want to add more assists and goals to his game. He utilises his pace and his impressive ability on the ball to move into promising areas, but needs to improve his final ball to continue to develop.

Matondo is still only 20 and will continue to improve. If he can add more goals and assists to his game, then he will be a beneficial player to his club and national side.