Who is Konstantinos Karetsas? Why Arsenal fans should be excited about 'Greek Messi' | OneFootball

Gunners said to be “very close” to a deal for Greek midfield prodigy

Arsenal are the latest top European club linked with Karetsas, with reports in Greece that the Gunners are “very close” to sealing a deal for him.

Karetsas was invited to tour the facilities at AC Milan and Manchester City when he decided to leave Anderlecht in 2023 - but he chose to stay in Belgium.

Karetsas plays for Genk in the Belgian Pro League

Belga/AFP via Getty Images

But the time will eventually come when he decides to make the leap to one of Europe’s top clubs.

“RB Leipzig, Milan and even Manchester City invited us several times to come and have a look. We didn’t like it,” his father Vaios told Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws last May.

“The only team outside Genk where we had discussions was Ajax. Purely because it is close by and we have a lot of respect for that club.

“That was just one conversation. The second would be about sporting and financial matters, but we had already given our word to Genk at that time.”

Born in Belgium to Greek parents, Karetsas played for Belgium at youth level before declaring for Greece this year.

He was swiftly handed his senior debut for Greece in March and scored in his second appearance for them when he found the net in a 3-0 win over Scotland at Hampden Park, becoming the youngest scorer in Greece’s history.

He also become the youngest player to score in the Nations League, with UEFA tweeting after the game: “Konstantinos Karetsas. Remember the name.”

Karetsas believes he made the “right choice” by switching countries, adding: “If I had chosen Belgium, Greece would have always been in the back of my head.”

The teenager will face another big choice when he inevitably moves to one of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Growing up, Karetsas would watch YouTube clips of his idols Neymar and Ronaldinho, before trying to recreate their skills in training.

Karetsas played for Belgium at youth level before declaring for Greece this year

Getty Images

The fact he is just 5ft 7in and left footed has led to the Messi comparisons, and he likes to play off the right flank before cutting inside.

Karetsas can also operate as a No10, and his creativity and ability to beat a man is what has caught the attention of so many scouts.

“I aim for the very top,” Karetsas told DAZN in an interview earlier this year.

On the evidence so far, he will take some stopping.