Iker Bravo
Full name: Iker Bravo Solanilla
Country: Spain
Date of birth: 13/01/2005 (17 years old)
Place of birth: Sant Cugat del Vallès (Spain)
Height: 185cm
Youth career: Espluguenc, FC Barcelona, Bayer Leverkusen (since 2021)
Current club: Real Madrid/Real Madrid Castilla (on loan from Bayer Leverkusen)
Squad number: 21
Current national team: Spain U-19
Position: supporting forward, centre-forward
Preferred foot: right
Market value (by transfermarkt.de): 1.000.000 €
Tournaments participated in: 2022 UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualification elite round (3/1), 2022 UEFA European Under-17 Championship (3/2), UEFA Youth League 2022/2023 (3/2)
Contract until: unknown
Player’s agent: unknown
Transfer rumours: —
Similar type of player: Robert Lewandowski
Strengths:
– finishing 
– shot power
– instinct
– off-the-ball movement
– link-up play
– athleticism
– technique
– ball control
– pace 
– dribbling
– first touch
– heading
– creativity
– flair
To improve:
No significant weaknesses.
Style of play:
– complete forward
– player with very good body mass ratio, physical strength, power, stamina, and natural fitness who feels comfortable in contact situations and knows how to use his body to gain advantage
– excellent pace, agility, and coordination for a player of his size
– killer instinct, great off-the-ball movement, above-average decision-making, intelligence, composure, and flair in the final third
– clinical finisher capable on both feet
– able to sniff out a goal in any situation
– very skillful at beating his markers and evading pressure
– in addition to his goalscoring ability, he is also a team player who is capable of creating chances and assisting goals for teammates
– his physical power and intellect let him play fruitfully with his back to the goal/very good ability to connect with midfield and attacking partners
– above-average playmaking skills
– often moves deeper into midfield and draws defenders with him in order to create and exploit spaces for his teammates
– generates many flick-ons and passes into the channels for his teammates to utilize
– feels comfortable in tight spaces/under pressure thanks to his footwork, technique, and ball control
– possesses powerful and accurate mid-range and long-range shooting skills
– has the confidence and ability to score spectacular goals such as screamers from outside the penalty area, overhead kicks, volleys, backheels, etc.
– extremely difficult to knock off the ball thanks to his strength, ability to shield the ball, and excellent close control
– able to produce powerful and dangerous runs on the counter-attack
– likes to take advantage of the carelessness of the opponents/always alert to capitalize on defensive mistakes
– aerial threat in the opposition box
– likes to press and hassle the opposition’s defenders effectively
– operates comfortably with his left weaker foot
Bravo receives the ball at the edge of the penalty area, nutmegs his opponent with ease, and scores with a powerful finish.
Bravo makes a very good off the ball move, loses his markers, and scores with a clinical finish.
Heatmap by Wyscout:
He is best suited to playing as:
Centre-forward in 4-3-3.
Video:
Achievements:
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League summary (as for 4 November 2022):
Bundesliga 2021/2022: 1 game/0 goals (Bayer Leverkusen)
Primera División RFEF 2022/2023 (ongoing): 8 games/2 goals (Real Madrid Castilla)
Description:
Iker Bravo joined the famous La Masia at the age of 5. In 2021, he moved to Bayer Leverkusen and made his professional debut on 27 October 2021 in a 2–1 DFB-Pokal loss to Karlsruher – at the age of 16 years, 9 months, and 15 days, he became the youngest ever debutant for Leverkusen, taking the record from Florian Wirtz. Two weeks later, he made his Bundesliga debut becoming the second youngest ever Bundesliga debutant and youngest ever for Bayer Leverkusen, before being passed by his teammate Zidan Sertdemir in the same game. In the summer of 2022, he was signed by Real Madrid on loan with an option to buy. Iker is also a regular youth international for Spain – he started at the U-15 level and currently he’s an important member of the U-19 setup.
Quotes:
“I think he is making a mistake,” Bayer Leverkusen’s CEO, Fernando Carro, said, but then maybe he would say that. After a year in Germany, Iker Bravo had told Leverkusen that he wanted to return to Spain, leaving them facing with the prospect of losing the striker who had become the third-youngest footballer ever to play for their first team. “He would be better staying here, training with the first team every day and playing with the Under-19s,” Carro told Radio Marca, yet what was on offer elsewhere was as good. Tall, strong, physically outstanding, Bravo was born in Catalonia, joined Barcelona at five and had been there a decade when he went to Leverkusen. Atlético Madrid were among those trying to bring him back, but it was Real Madrid that signed him (initally on loan, transfer to be made permanent next summer). There, he is training with the first team, playing for the U19s in the youth league and also appearing for Castilla (Madrid’s B team in the third tier of professional football). Not only that: he has already been included in the first-team squad, for their Champions League trip to Celtic.’
(The Guardian in their ‘Next Generation 2022: 60 of the best young talents in world football’ list)
Football Talent Scout potential rating:
World-class potential.
Links: