The brand named the best 11 Wonderkids U18 in 2016, and one is rapid now. What happened to them
Article by Eduard Apostol – published Wednesday, September 10, 2025, 16:18 / Updated Wednesday, September 10, 2025 16:19
Cristi Manea, 28, was in a first 11 elaborated by prestigious Spanish publication in 2016, along with names that reached the peaks of performance, such as Donnarumma and Mbappe, but also players who climbed and regressed internationally, such as Oxford and Renato Sanches.
The Spaniards from the brand have a habit of elaborating a first XI of future footballers for many years. Thus, in 2016, the Iberians presented a formula with the 11 Wonderkids U18, of which a promising player in Romania was also part.
Cristi Manea, ping-pong with Apollon and various clubs
On the post of right defender in the 4-3-3 formula of the Spaniards, Cristi Manea appears. In 2016 he evolved in the form of a loan in Belgium at Mouscron. A year before, he had been purchased by Apollon Limassol from Viitorul for 2.5 million euros. There were some discussions about transfer with Chelsea, which proved to be false.
The Constanta was passed by the Cypriot club – for which she never played! – at various clubs, until CFR Cluj paid 400,000 euros on it in September 2020. It was also at CFR Cluj, and at FCSB, he returned to Gruia, and from July 2024 he reached Fap Rapid.
Cristi Manea is currently at Rapid
Currently, due to an injury, it cannot evolve into the club team. He has gathered only 4 matches in Costel Gâlcă's mandate and has two assists.
25of selections and 2 goals gathered the right defender for the Romanian national
The quickist next to huge names, such as Gianluigi Donnarumma, Kylian Mbappe and Martin ØDegaard
Here is the first 11 U18 of 2016 developed by the brand: Donnarumma – Cr. Manea, Oxford, Joe Gomez, Terney – Neves, Tielemans, Sanches – Odegaard, Solanke, Mbappe.
First XI elaborated by journalists from the brand in 2016
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City) * European champion, Champions League with PSG, plus 9 other internal trophies in France, a supercap with Milan. In 2016, he was under contract with AC Milan, then went to PSG. Manchester City paid 30 million euros in this Mercato to bring Pep Guardiola. The captain of Squadrei Azzura.
Donarrumma – one of the world's best porters in the last decade
Cristi Manea (Rapid București) * 5 Championships won Manea with CFR Cluj, plus 2 supercovers. It also has a Cup of Romania with FCSB
Reece Oxford (Free contract) * Nine years ago was at West Ham United. He was still borrowed in the Bundesliga at Monchengladbach and Augsburg, the last paying 2 million euros to purchase permanently in the summer of 2019. The English is free of contract since July 2025.
Joe Gomez (Liverpool) * “Cormorants” bought the stop in July 2015 from Charlton for 4.9 million euros. It remained faithful to Liverpool, with which he conquered Champions League, plus another 8 internal trophies.
Kieran Tierney (Celtic) * raised by “Catholics”, in 2019 took the step for 29 million euros in Arsenal. He was also borrowed at Sociedad, and in July 2025 he returned home. 11 trophies conquered with “green”, three with arsenal.
Ruben Neves (Al Hilal) * Raised in Porto, Lusitan was transferred by Wolverhampton for 18 million euros when he was 20 years old. In the summer 2023, it was the subject of a 55 million euro move to Al Hilal. It also has 60 selections for Portugal, along with which it has conquered the Nations League twice. Four trophies in the palmares with Al Hilal.
Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa) * The midfielder with 79 selections and 12 goals at the Belgian national team started in football from Anderlecht (with which he has five trophies), and AS Monaco paid 25 million euros to buy it at 19. Leicester purchased two years later for 45 million euros, won two trophies with “foxes”. For two years he has been at Aston Villa.
Renato Sanches (Panathinaikos) * His career climbed vertiginos, being purchased by Bayern right then, in 2016, from Benfica for 35 million euros. He was resisted in Bavaria, he was borrowed in Swansea, then Lille paid 20 million euros to bring him to France. In 2022, PSG paid 15 million euros for the transfer, and a season later at the borrowed at AS Rome. He also played at Benfica in the form of a loan one season, and in the summer he was temporarily ceded by Panathinaikos. In the CV it has countless trophies, catching some extraordinary moments, from Euro 2016 with Portugal to 9 trophies with Bayern, two with Lille and one with PSG.
Renato Sanches is on a downward slope of the career
Martin ØDegaard (Arsenal) * seen as a great hope at the planetary level, the Norwegian was bought at 17 years by Real Madrid for 2.8 million euros from Stromsgodset. He was borrowed at Heerenveen, Vitesse, Sociedad, and Arsenal (with whom he has a trophy) to buy permanently in 2021 for 35 million euros. He is the captain of the “tunar” and his country. Important piece for the national of Norway, 67 selections, 4 goals.
Dominic Solanke (Tottenham) * raised by Chelsea's Academy, borrowed at Vitesse, reached free of charge in Liverpool in 2017. Two years later, Bournemouth paid 21 million on the striker, which he received over 64 million euros last year when he gave in to Spurs.
Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid) * The golden ice of Europe, 14 golfer trophies of the championships and the competitions in which it was engaged with the club teams or with the national of France! World Champion with France at 20, 16 trophies with PSG, two with Los Merenges and one with Monaco. 180 million euros paid PSG to transfer it to 20 years in the Principality! Madrid brought it for free last year, on 30 million euros bonus for installation and a salary of 45 million euros in a season!
Mbappe is one of the world's best footballers in recent years
