Why Newcastle target Manzambi is in demand

Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Johan Manzambi has won 16 caps for Switzerland By Ciaran Kelly Newcastle United reporter Published 22 minutes ago Johan Manzambi mapped it all out. The determined midfielder had his sights set on the 2026 World Cup before he even made his debut for Freiburg or won his first senior cap for Switzerland. Manzambi was therefore never going to just settle for a place in the squad once he got there. The 20-year-old instead relished this grand stage as one of the tournament's breakout stars. In truth, manager Murat Yakin had little choice but to start him after he came off the bench and scored a double against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Switzerland's second group game. Manzambi went on to repay Yakin's faith with a goal and an assist on his full World Cup debut versus Canada and by setting up his side's opener in the round of 32 victory over Algeria. Manzambi missed Switzerland's subsequent last 16 win against Colombia due to a knee injury and it remains to be seen if he will be fit enough to feature versus holders Argentina in the quarter-finals. But he has already made history after becoming the youngest player to chalk up five goal involvements at a single World Cup since records began. It feels like this is just the start for the Newcastle United target as close friend Yann Sturm suggested. "I'm sure we will be hearing a lot more from him over the coming years," he said. 'The kind of player every coach wants' It has been quite a rise. But Manzambi's thirst to get better quickly caught the eye at Freiburg as he rose through the ranks following his move from Swiss side Servette in 2023. After one particularly draining training session with the reserves went on far longer than planned, Manzambi even asked the then Freiburg II manager Benedetto Muzzicato if he could go over the game plan again because it "didn't feel right". "He wants to improve every single day," Muzzicato said. "If anything, you have to slow him down rather than motivate him." This mentality has been a constant throughout his burgeoning career and helps explain why Manzambi was on the radar of clubs long before the World Cup started. He was a key cog in the Freiburg side who reached the Europa League final for the first time ever last season and followed in the footsteps of Rayan Cherki and Florian Wirtz by being named the competition's young player of the season. It was Manzambi's first full campaign as a starter yet he racked up 13 goal involvements, including stunning long-range efforts against Bayern Munich and Braga in the Bundesliga and Europa League respectively. Manzambi's ball-carrying, close control and ability to make things happen all stood out, as did his versatility. The Swiss has played in a variety of roles for club and country in the middle of the park, but he has the attributes to potentially excel as a box-to-box midfielder. The data certainly suggests so. Among players in the Bundesliga in his position, in 2025-26, Manzambi