FM22: Top 10 Attacking Midfielder Wonderkids

Football Manager 2022 has just entered our lives, but like other FM games, FM22 has quickly shown us that there's a lot to learn and dig into to play well.

As with several other positions before, today we're going to talk about the highest-potential players you can sign in Football Manager 2022 among the best attacking midfielders who will do a lot of work for your team.

As with other positions, the focus here is on lesser-known players rather than obvious, big-name superstars. So don't expect to see names like Bruno Fernandes, Kevin De Bruyne, Pedri, Phil Foden, Mason Mount, Isco and Kai Havertz on this list. Instead, this list is made up of players you may know but who've flown under your radar, or complete wonderkids.

Who Are the Best CAM/Attacking Midfielders to Sign in Football Manager (FM) 2022?

With that in mind, here are ten great CAM options to help you in your quest for FM22 dominance.

Club: Velez Sarsfield

Nationality: Argentine

Price: £5 million

If you've played the last few Football Manager entries, you're probably already aware of Thiago Almada. If you're new to the FM series or have taken a break from the franchise for the last few years, Thiago Almada will be a very pleasant surprise for you.

This small but skillful young Argentine promises much more than the classic number 10 traits, with strong figures for flair (16), technique (16), vision (15), first touch (15) and agility (15).

If you choose to make a move for Thiago in your first pre-season, you can agree a deal for £5 million or less. At that price, you'll get a creative attacking midfielder with huge potential who can dominate top leagues within a season or two (once given regular playing time).

9. Matías Palacios

Club: Basel

Nationality: Argentine

Price: £5.5 million

21-year-old Argentine talent Matías Palacios can turn into a complete superstar if used correctly and given the right chances.

As always, that "right path" will include a good training regime, top-level coaches and, of course, plenty of minutes on the pitch — whether that's for your own team or by choosing to loan the 19-year-old out for a season or two. If you can afford to give Palacios game time at your club, that's definitely the best route.

He has remarkable stats for a 21-year-old CAM. In that regard, flair (17), determination (16), agility (15), first touch (15), dribbling (15) and the always-important technique (15) are among his standout attributes.

Palacios, who you can probably sign for around £5.5 million, is an attacking midfielder who will definitely pay off if you develop him well, just like Almada.

8. Dani Olmo

Club: RB Leipzig

Nationality: Spanish

Price: £47 million

Probably the best-known name on this list, Dani Olmo is also one of the most expensive.

While a price tag of around £47 million is far from cheap, what makes Olmo a particularly attractive signing is how attainable he is. Sure, you might not have much money to spare, but if you're one of the super clubs with plenty of cash in the bank, that high fee is definitely worth paying.

Having spent seven years in Barcelona's youth academy, Olmo comes with the kind of starting stats you'd expect from a 23-year-old midfielder who graduated from La Masia. One of Spain's best players at Euro 2020, he stands out with such impressive performances for club and country — with especially enormous attributes for dribbling, vision, flair, first touch, off the ball, teamwork, technique, passing, stamina, balance and anticipation.

In real life, Olmo looks set to be the next star to fly RB Leipzig's nest. In Football Manager 22 terms, there's no doubt he'll be a genuine superstar of the game for the next decade. He won't be cheap, but Leipzig's business model of developing young talent to sell on for a significant profit means Olmo could be yours if you offer the right price.

7. Yari Verschaeren

Club: Anderlecht

Nationality: Belgian

Price: £6.5 million

Anderlecht's Yari Verschaeren is a smart, creative attacking midfielder you should assign a scout to as soon as you start a new FM22 save. Starting the game at just 20 years old, Yari can develop into one of the best CAMs in the game in the years ahead.

After a few seasons, Verschaeren's value will shoot up to £40 million — so if you have the money, this is a transfer you should complete sooner or later! In the first season, he can be bought for a fee of around £6.5 million.

Besides being a great CAM, he's a wonderkid who can comfortably play and perform well in most areas of the front line!

6. Yusuf Demir

Club: Barcelona (on loan from Rapid Vienna)

Nationality: Austrian

Price: £12 million

In theory, Yusuf Demir is on loan at Barcelona before signing a permanent deal with the Spanish giants at the end of his first season.

Unfortunately for Barca, the harsh truth is they (usually) don't have enough funding to make this move permanent in FM22. This development also gives other clubs a chance to snap up this ridiculously promising Turkish-Austrian midfielder.

Because of the deal mentioned above, you won't be able to sign Yusuf Demir in his first season, but you can arrange a deal for him to join you once his temporary spell at Barca is over. To do exactly that, you may need to offer Rapid Vienna around £12 million.

Versatile at 18 years old, this player can play almost anywhere across midfield, but deploying him as an advanced playmaker in the CAM role will get the most out of Yusuf.

5. Sebastian Szymanski

Club: Dinamo Moscow

Nationality: Polish

Price: £7.5 million

When it comes to Football Manager 2022, Sebastian Szymanski is one of the classic hidden gems.

One of the great things Szymanski offers is his affordability. For around £7.5 million — or possibly a bit less — you can convince Dinamo Moscow to let the Polish international go.

While some of the CAMs elsewhere on this list might be labeled "luxury players" in some circles, Szymanski is far from that. Rather than building your tactics around him, he's a genuine battler with a high work rate and effort on the pitch who can push your team up a level or two.

A determination level of 17, work rate, teamwork and stamina all around 16, and off the ball movement (which is very important for a midfielder) at 15 are a few of his notable stats.

Technically, Sebastian Szymanski may not be as good as some of the other options on this list, but he has a lot of room to improve, and that can make him a great investment for you. It's also worth noting that, in addition to his natural CAM position, he's quite comfortable playing on either wing.

4. Naci Ünüvar

Club: Ajax

Nationality: Dutch

Price: £14 million

As in countless Football Manager releases, and of course in real life, Ajax's roster in FM22 is packed with wonderkids.

While Jurrien Timber, Devyne Rensch, Kenneth Taylor and Ryan Gravenberch are all outstanding prospects you should do everything you can to sign, when it comes to more attacking midfield roles, the brightest star at the Eredivisie club is, of course, Naci Ünüvar.

Technique, flair, dribbling and determination are Naci's most important starting stats, and with that skill set he's clearly showing signs he can develop significantly over the coming seasons. In that regard, the main area that clearly needs to be addressed and developed for the 18-year-old Turkish-Dutch player is definitely his physical attributes — with strength and stamina a particular concern.

Still, for £14 million, he's a genuine prospect with natural talent that you can add to your investments, with the option to play him on the left of attack or as a CAM.

3. Isak Hansen-Aarøen

Club: Manchester United

Nationality: Norwegian

Price: £15 million

It wouldn't be wrong to say that 19-year-old Isak Hansen-Aarøen is where Martin Ødegaard was a few years ago. Now 23, with Arsenal and Real Madrid on his CV, Ødegaard was once the hottest young star on the planet and made his debut for Strømsgodset at just 15 years old.

For Hansen-Aarøen, hopes are high that he can reach — or even surpass — the level his countryman achieved, and these days the young attacking midfielder is in Manchester United's academy.

Given his age and enormous potential, you might have to pay a fee of £15 million.

2. Gaetano Castrovilli

Club: Fiorentina

Nationality: Italian

Price: £10 million

Gaetano Castrovilli is one of the relative bargains, making him a perfect pick for clubs looking to move up to the next level. For example, anyone who chooses to play as the richest club, Newcastle Utd, should put this player on their radar right away.

At 24 years old, Castrovilli is ready to walk straight into your starting XI based on his stats. Even if you're playing as one of the traditional big clubs, it would be smart to bring this player into your squad.

A hard-working, creative playmaker, this Fiorentina midfielder has an edge over some of the other players on this list because of his physicality. At 1.8m tall and 72kg, Castrovilli proves to be both sturdy and skillful. It's best to play him centrally as much as possible rather than out wide.

1. Jamal Musiala

Club: Bayern Munich

Nationality: German

Price: £50 million

Earning five caps for the German national team at just 18 years old takes special talent, and Jamal Musiala is exactly that kind of special player.

Of course, for someone of this quality, you'll need to dig deep into your club's finances to convince Bayern Munich to let Musiala go. Still, if you're in charge of one of the wealthy clubs, £50 million will be enough to add this attacking midfielder to your team.

Musiala, who started his football career out wide, can do a job anywhere on the pitch, with dribbling (17) and flair (18) numbers. And that's just the tip of the iceberg, because this young player also has great starting numbers for technique (17), agility (16), natural fitness (16), determination (16), first touch (16) and pace (15).

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