Olympique de Marseille winger Florian Thauvin is set to be one of the most sought-after talents in the upcoming transfer window.
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The OM man has been linked to Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United, while Chelsea are also reportedly interested in his signing.
While he has come in for criticism from his own supporters this season, Thauvin starred at SC Bastia before moving to the Stade Velodrome, and is a France U21 international.
Like so many talented creative midfielders who burst onto the scene, he has been dubbed the ‘new Zidane’.
It’s not a particularly original nickname, and several of his countrymen in the past have been given a similar moniker after showing glimpses of the magnificent technique and elegance of the France great.
In this feature, we run down some of those players that bore the ‘new Zidane’ tag.
While none have lived up to the great man, some have gone close…others, meanwhile, have fallen well short.
Hatem Ben Arfa
Newcastle United, France and Olympique Lyonnais fans may well tell you that Hatem Ben Arfa is capable of Zidane-esque magic.
Hull City and OGC Nice fans may beg to differ.
The 28-year-old has sadly only demonstrated his class far too rarely over the last few seasons, and has been without a club since getting his wires crossed at the Allianz Riviera earlier this year.
It remains to be seen whether this failed Zizou has anything else to offer the footballing world.
Adel Taarabt
Sure, Zidane had a taste for controversy—he was sent off in two World Cups and one final, after all—but while Taarabt has matched this side of Zidane’s game, he hasn’t replicated it too much elsewhere.
The dazzling runs and magnificent shots have become something of a rarity at Queens Park Rangers, and until this prodigious talent can sort out his off-field problems (and his fitness) he is fallen well short of the man who inspired his moniker.
“I came here and was told he was a genius, but I’m yet to see it,” said Joey Barton of Taarabt upon his arrival at QPR [via the Telegraph]. Sadly, he’s all too accurate…
Bruno Cheyrou
Alas, for few players has a nickname been as much of an albatross as the ‘new Zidane’ tag proved to be for Bruno Cheyrou.
This was how Gerald Houllier introduced him when he was signed by Liverpool, but 31 league appearances over the next four years told a different story.
Cheyrou went on to become a valuable servant in Ligue 1 for Stade Rennais, and then FC Nantes, and he earned a handful of France caps.
But Zizou…? No chance!
Samir Nasri
Samir Nasri was given the ‘new Zidane’ tag while breaking through at Olympique de Marseille, both for his ability and his style, as well as the fact—like others on this list—that he has origins in North Africa.
The midfielder has gone on to enjoy a fine career—winning the Premier League twice with Manchester City and representing France over 40 times—but he hasn’t reached the heights of Zidane.
Karim Benzema
Benzema wore the ‘new Zidane’ tag somewhat erroneously.
The connection was made because the current Real Madrid man has North African origin—like Zidane—and because he had the potential to inspire the French national side.
A fine striker, Benzema has already played more times for Real than Zidane did, albeit in a different role to the France great.
Yoann Gourcuff
It’s easy to see why people made the comparison between Zidane and Gourcuff—a playmaker possessing a vision and a creative touch comparable to that of Zizou.
However, while Zidane went on to inspire France to the World Cup triumph of ’98, ‘Le Successeur’ has struggled to make his mark.
He flopped at Milan after a fine spell in Bordeaux, and injuries—a familiar foe—have affected his (otherwise impressive) campaign at Lyon this year.
Paul Pogba
Juventus legend Alessio Tacchinardi once likened Paul Pogba to Zinedine Zidane, placing him in a class of players who could “make the difficult look infinitely easy” according to Goal.com.
However, while Pogba actually has the ability that may—one day—take him close to Zidane’s stratosphere, he isn’t the same type of player as the Real Madrid icon, instead resembling another France great, Patrick Vieira, in his powerful playing style.
Franck Ribery
Of all the players on this list, Ribery has come closest to emulating Zidane.
The two played together in 2006 and almost inspired France to a second World Cup title, before Marco Materazzi and Zidane’s forehead brought those dreams crashing down.
32-year-old Ribery featured over 80 times for France, won five Bundesliga titles and lifted the Champions League with Bayern in 2013.