With Percy Tau expected to be a key feature for Al Ahly at the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup, here's a look where he ranks among the most valuable No. 10s at the tournament, including Manchester City's Jack Grealish!
Tau will have another shot at Club World Cup glory as he will be making a third appearance at the tournament, having played a total of six matches in his previous two showings – 2017 and 2022 – at the competition. The 29-year-old heads into Ahly's opening game of the latest showpiece on the back of a huge confidence boost after he was named the 2023 CAF Interclub Player of the Year, an accolade that has never been awarded to a South African before.
Read: Tau deserves another shot in Europe!
As such, there are huge expectations for him to be one of the Red Devils' leading talismans in a competition that will feature big names such as City stars Erling Haaland and Bernardo Silva, as well as former Real Madrid fullback Marcelo of Fluminense. Friday's fixture against Al Ittihad is likely to also see the Witbank-born attacker come up against renowned footballers such as Karim Benzema – whom he previously faced in the UEFA Champions League while on the books of Club Brugge – 2018 FIFA World Cup winner N'Golo Kante and ex-Liverpool playmaker Fabinho.
Nevertheless, we decided to take a look at where Tau ranks in terms of market value when compared to other stars wearing the iconic No. 10 jerseys at the tournament.
According to Transfermarkt, Tau is currently worth a sizeable €1.5 million (R30.3 million), which is a far cry from his peak valuation of €6 million (R121 million) back in 2019 while on the books of Belgian giants Brugge.
It should be noted that representatives of the North American Confederation, Mexican side Club Leon, currently do not have a player in their squad who wears the No. 10.
6. Dylan Manickum (Auckland City) - €250 000
The ex-Brighton Hove Albion player is worth more than New Zealand-born No. 10, Manickum, whose team Auckland City was eliminated from the competition by Al Ittihad following a 3-0 defeat earlier in the week. Valued at €250 000 (R5 million), the attacking midfielder played against the Saudi side, but was unable to exert his influence on the match and was brought off after 76 minutes played. He has had better fortunes in the NZ National League, though, where he has registered seven goals in 11 appearances so far this season. Interestingly, Manickum has a career in two sporting disciplines – he is also a regular feature for the New Zealand National Futsal Team.
5. Ganso (Fluminense) - €700 000
The oldest star on this list, Ganso is said to be worth €700 000 (R14.1 million), placing him in fifth position and making him just one of two No. 10s who are valued at below a million euros. The 34-year-old began his senior career all the way back in 2008 at Santos, where he played with names such as Robinho and Juventus pair Alex Sandro and Danilo. The Brazilian midfielder also had stints in Europe, representing record UEFA Europa League champions Sevilla and Amiens SC in France.
4. Percy Tau (Al Ahly) - €1.5 million
Tau comes in as the fourth-most-valuable No. 10 at the tournament at just over R30 million. The Bafana Bafana star was given the famous jersey number at Al Ahly from the 2022/23 season onwards; before that, he wore the No. 23 shirt in Cairo. Apart from with the national team, Tau had previously never worn the No. 10 jersey, with numbers 11, 19, 22, and 35 being his previous choices.
3. Shoya Nakajima (Urawa Red Diamonds) - €1.6 million
A recent signing at Urawa Red Diamonds, Shoya Nakajima returned to his native country after a spell at Turkish top-flight team Antalyaspor. Capped 19 times for the Japan national team, he won the 2019/20 Portuguese Primeira Liga with FC Porto. Some of his famous teammates while in Portugal included Luis Diaz of Liverpool, Otavio and Alex Telles of Al Nassr, as well as Vitinha of Paris Saint-Germain. The 29-year-old is understood to be worth €1.6 million (R32.4 million).
2. Igor Coronado (Al Ittihad) - €6 million
The Brazilian-born Italian is Al Ittihad's trusted midfielder alongside N'Golo Kante, and lasted 87 minutes in his team's opening game against Auckland. He joined the club from Sharjah FC back in 2021 for a fee of €10.15 million (R205 million) and has since won the 2022/23 Saudi Pro League and Saudi Super Cup titles. Transfermarkt has him valued at €6 million (R121 million), placing him second only behind Grealish among the showpiece's No. 10s.
1. Jack Grealish (Manchester City) - €75 million
Signed for a mega fee of €117.5 million from Aston Villa in August 2021, the City star's value now stands at a whopping €75 million (R1.5 billion). He is by far the most valuable No. 10 at the tournament, with his value exceeding all the aforementioned players combined. He remains an important figure in Pep Guardiola's team, and was part of a historic 2022/23 generation that won the club its first-ever Champions League title.
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