It’s standard for players to become less reckless as they age. He’s in his mid 20s now and is not a young promise anymore.
I just wanna say that I thought the r/soccer sub was the only true football sub on Reddit for several months. The content there is just…not football enough. I want to say that I love how passionate we are here. This type of question being asked here would be deemed as “stupid” or “why are you going so deep into that?” but it’s thought provoking. OP is wondering whether this 23yo gem has passed the point of no return. And that is worth examining, in my opinion. Thank you for being curious footballers to you reading this!!
Cissé at Stanford Bridge in a Chelsea v Newcastle.
Mate, try the Brasileirao haha it’s exciting and you will always discover new Brazilian talents before anyone.
Messi vs Man City qf UCL 2015 or Messi vs United 2011 final.
Robben vs Spain in 2014 WC.
Ronaldinho vs Madrid 2005 at Bernabeu.
Cristiano vs Sweden in that playoff for WC spot 2013.
Mbappe va Argentina 1/16 Russia WC.
Man, there are just too many. I love the game.
It’s hard to tell. With English players, it’s difficult because they all start strong in ages 17-22 and then they either break or slow down to accept an “average good player” role. Look at Welbeck, Grealish, Foden, Rashford, Cole (Chelsea), Owen, etc. I don’t know what the ceiling could be because after the age of 22 then we will be able to see a more mature version of him and he will have decided where he wants his career to go to.
Right now at his age he obviously seems overly mature in his game style and personality so the future does look bright! But we’ve said that with many other English and non-English players. We just have to wait and enjoy his progression.
Source: objective but hardcore Barca fan who’s been watching and following the sport since 2002.