Johan Manzambi’s former manager believes Aston Villa supporters are going to enjoy watching the midfielder develop in the Premier League.
SC Freiburg head coach Julian Schuster has spoken glowingly about the 20-year-old after his summer move to Villa Park.
Those comments look particularly timely after Manzambi marked his first Premier League start with a goal and an assist in Saturday’s 3-2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur.
The Switzerland international opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time before combining with Nicolas Jackson for Villa’s second.
It was the clearest evidence yet of why Aston Villa were prepared to break their transfer record to sign him.
Julian Schuster makes Johan Manzambi prediction
Schuster worked closely with Manzambi during his rapid rise at Freiburg.
The midfielder progressed from the club’s youth setup into the first team before becoming a key part of the side that reached last season’s Europa League final.
Speaking about Manzambi’s departure, Schuster admitted he had hoped Freiburg might be able to keep him.
“There are certain hurdles, like contracts – we had a handle on that situation,” Schuster said, as relayed by Sport Witness.
But the Freiburg coach ultimately accepted that Manzambi’s performances and potential made a major transfer increasingly likely.
He added: “They’re going to have a lot of fun with him in the Premier League, too.”
That prediction already looks promising.
Manzambi’s display against Tottenham was examined in our analysis of the competition his breakthrough creates for Alejandro Garnacho.
Aston Villa paid record fee for Manzambi
Villa completed Manzambi’s transfer from Freiburg during the summer after his impressive World Cup campaign with Switzerland.
Sky Sports reported that the total package could reach £59.5million with add-ons.
That made him Villa’s club-record signing.
Freiburg’s official announcement described Manzambi as a player who had become increasingly important to the way the German side played.
He left Freiburg having made 58 senior competitive appearances, scoring nine goals and providing 11 assists.
His adaptation to the Premier League was delayed by the knee problem he carried back from the World Cup.
Saturday was therefore his first opportunity to start a league match for Emery.
He took it immediately.
Our Tottenham 2-3 Aston Villa match report details how Manzambi helped Villa turn a difficult opening period into their first Premier League victory of the season.
Manzambi now heads away with Switzerland
Villa will not have Manzambi at Bodymoor Heath throughout the international break.
The Swiss Football Association squad confirms he has been called up by Murat Yakin for the upcoming Nations League fixtures.
That follows a World Cup in which Manzambi emerged as one of Switzerland’s most exciting young players.
He already has six goals from 16 senior international appearances.
His return to international duty also underlines how quickly his status has developed.
Villa signed him as a major long-term investment.
One Premier League start later, he is already giving Emery a genuine selection decision.
Manzambi still has plenty to prove over a full season.
But Schuster believed Aston Villa were signing a player capable of making a difference.
After one goal, one assist and a statement performance at Tottenham, that prediction is already beginning to look well founded.
