FM24 Best Wonderkid Left-Backs

I’m 99% certain that you’ll have realised that 5 Star Potential was a nod to the famous scouting grade for players with exceptional potential in Football Manager and every year we love to talk about Wonderkids and other great players our journeys uncover and it’s no different for Football Manager 2024 as we take a look at some players you should start scouting in your saves. 

Some of these players will be standout, household names and others just interesting prospects for all different types of clubs, basically, they are players we really like the look of. 

Matteo Ruggeri
Club: Atalanta

Atalanta’s recent success has been largely built upon powerful explosive wing-backs contributing heavily to offensive play and counter-attack football, so it’s no surprise they have a factory line of highly skilled players coming through on either flank. 20-year-old Matteo Ruggeri certainly fits the bill - lighting quick with excellent stamina, determination & natural fitness, and this combined with good mentals and fantastic crossing make him a very high-potential option in FM24 if wing-backs are your role of choice this year.

Valentin Barco
Club: Boca Juniors

Already appears to be the left-back of choice for many of you this year and looking at his profile, attributes and value it’s no surprise that he topped Football Manager’s Most Signed Players list during Early Access. Though only 18 when you load up your first save, he is already first-team ready with excellent all-round attributes for a wing-back, in particular his Dribbling, Crossing, Technique, Vision and Flair which combined with 17 Determination make him an incredible asset for what is a bargain for well under £10m.

John Tolkin
Club: New York Red Bulls

A different Tolkin to the one of Lord of the Rings fame, but a wizard in his own right nonetheless. Already capped 3 times by the USMNT in a position with heavy competition from the likes of Antonee Robinson, Serginho Dest, George Bello and Joe Scally - John Tolkin has continued to impress for New York Red Bulls with 4 goals and 11 assists across 36 first-team appearances. In FM24 we see a well-rounded and good-value wing-back with strong determination and a healthy comination of defensive and offensive attributes, already first-team capable for most top tier sides and at 20 years of age he has plenty of room to develop and improve in-game.