The head coach of the Russian U18 youth team, **Andrey Aksyonov**, praised the impressive attributes of 17-year-old Moscow “Spartak” debutant right winger **Nikita Massalyga**.

“I recruited Massalyga from the ‘Yenisei’ academy. He stood out and appeared quite promising as a dynamic player. He made it to the final roster after the selection camp. Shortly after, we received a call from ‘Spartak’, confirming that they had already arranged his transfer with ‘Yenisei’.

Massalyga possesses excellent physical characteristics, is fast, and demonstrates maturity on the field. It’s worth noting his strong left foot and well-executed shooting ability, which are definitely his advantages. He displays good dribbling while shifting into the center; Nikita has consistently played as a right forward. He somewhat resembles the top players in his position. I’m not suggesting he’s on the level of Yamal or Messi, but he shares some similarities with them. Additionally, he surprisingly excels in aerial duels given his physical attributes.

I was, of course, taken aback by his early debut for ‘Spartak’. It came as a surprise. He hadn’t participated in the winter training sessions with the team, as those young players usually get their chance to play in the main squad. However, I was pleasantly surprised because ‘Spartak’ and the entire Premier League have finally begun to pay attention to talents. Nikita Massalyga has all the qualities needed to become a solid player. His future will depend on the level of trust he receives, along with his work ethic and personal development. If he continues to make progress and the coach is satisfied, then success should follow. Predicting the future is quite challenging,” Aksyonov shared in a conversation with Championship correspondent Vladimir Chetverikov.

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