FEATURE | ‘Golden Boy’ Maghnes Akliouche knocking on Didier Deschamps’ door

There is the ability to show moments of technical brilliance but being able to do so repeatedly is what separates the good from the great. Maghnes Akliouche (22), for a while, fell into the former category.

The talent was so clearly there, as he showed on a cold Coupe de France night in February 2022. In his first professional start, he latched onto a ball in behind, turned one defender, brushed off another, before putting the ball on a plate for Kevin Volland, who easily converted. It was the moment that Akliouche announced himself but it was a moment that, over the course of the 18 months that followed, he struggled to replicate.

Faced with competition for a place from the likes of Takumi Minamino, Krépin Diatta, and the now-departed Gelson Martins, Akliouche failed to hold down a place in the line-up, despite others failing to make the position their own. 

“Maghnes has developed well over the past weeks and months,” began former Monaco manager Philippe Clement, now at Rangers. “Because of that, he has received opportunities to prove that during matches. For now, he’s showing it more in training than in the matches,” added Clement back in October 2022.

Fabregas’ advice to Akliouche

That inability to replicate his performance in training, at least not consistently saw Akliouche’s progress stall somewhat, all the while, another pépite from Monaco’s prestigious La Diagonale academy, Eliesse Ben Seghir, was bursting onto the scene, providing the assurances – and the stats – that Akliouche was not. Akliouche’s memorable assist against Amiens in the Coupe de France was his only goal contribution of the 2021/22 season, all the while, on the opposite wing, Ben Seghir was proving the difference-maker, registering seven goal contributions that season, including four goals in Ligue 1. 

A technically gifted player with a deft touch and an ability to glide past players, the fruits of his work were inconsistent and his tangible effect on the game was too often limited. Akliouche recalls former Monégasque Cesc Fabregas telling him to “play simple”, but for a player with the capacities of Akliouche, showing restraint is difficult, and ultimately, even if that advice has been on-boarded to an extent, he hasn’t had too. 

With Ben Seghir injured for much of the last campaign, Akliouche had his chance and he seized it with both hands. He got a proverbial monkey off his back in the first game of the season, netting against Clermont before going to net on seven more occasions across the campaign. But even despite his breakthrough, which also saw him become a favourite under Thierry Henry in the France U21 set-up, he didn’t rest on his laurels. 

“Doubts [about establishing myself at my formative club]? There still are. Monaco is a big club with a lot of competition so you have to be focused on your work every day and that is what I am trying to do,” said Akliouche in February of this year. 

He finished the season strongly, inciting Monaco manager Adi Hütter to call him the “Golden Boy”. For a period, that title was bestowed upon Ben Seghir but as he returned this year, it became immediately apparent that at a club like Monaco, who prioritise youth development, there was room for more than one “Golden Boy” in this team. 

“We have lots of young talents, like Ben Seghir, Akliouche, (Lamine) Camara… no one knows them very well in Europe. The Champions League will be the best scene to present them,” previewed Hütter ahead of Les Monégasques’ opener against Barcelona. Akliouche certainly made use of the platform he was given. 

Performing at the highest level in world football, Akliouche proved that he belonged to be there, netting a stunning individual goal just minutes into his Champions League debut. “I thought I was only going to score in the Champions League,” joked Akliouche after he netted his third and fourth goal of the season against Stade Brestois, but his first in Ligue 1. 

Akliouche at ‘international level’ – Hütter

If the performance against Barcelona was proof of his ability to play in the Champions League, his brace in the win over Brest was a message to Didier Deschamps – a statement that he can do it for France too. It was a performance in line with a rapid upward trajectory for Akliouche, who once again evidenced his game-changing ability. He was always a de-stabilising player but he is now a finisher too. 

“I work on my finishing in training. It is important for an attacker to keep his cool in front of goal […] I’m feeling better and better,” said Akliouche after his brace. 

“He can be happy that he is an example [of our academy], I saw [Akliouche] was a big talent but when you are upfront or a No.10, you have to bring stats, and set up or score goals. He brings us lots of stats. With two goals, he was for sure the key player tonight,” said Hütter, who then gave his assessment of Akliouche’s readiness for the international scene. 

“He has made huge progress. For me, he is an international player,” added Hütter, whilst Akliouche’s progress has not been lost on captain Denis Zakaria, who joined in the summer of 2023. “He is a different player to the one from the start of last season. Before he was a bit of a ‘kid’ but he has matured. In his game, he often makes the right decision. He is really a very good player,” said the former Juventus and Chelsea midfielder.

Akliouche said that he hadn’t been contacted by Deschamps regarding a first France call-up but that may not remain the case for long, especially given Les Bleus’ manager’s special eye for a Monégasque talent; a stadium in his name is just a stone’s throw again from the Stade Louis II, whilst his residence overlooks the Principality.

“I can imagine that some top clubs will be interested in Maghnes next season,” said Hütter earlier this week. However, having tied Akliouche down until 2028 after signing a contract extension in July amid reported interest from Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, it will be expensive to prise him away from the Principality. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle