M'Baye Niang

M'Baye Niang

Niang playing for Milan in 2016
Personal information
Full name M'Baye Chraloglou Niang[1]
Date of birth (1994-12-19) 19 December 1994
Place of birth Meulan-en-Yvelines, France
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[2]
Playing position Winger / Forward
Club information
Current team
 Milan
Number 11
Youth career
2001–2003 Basse-Seine Les Mureaux
2003–2007 Poissy
2007–2010 Caen
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2012 Caen 30 (5)
2012– Milan 62 (8)
2014 → Montpellier (loan) 19 (4)
2015 → Genoa (loan) 14 (5)
National team‡
2009–2010 France U16 6 (3)
2010–2011 France U17 8 (0)
2011–2012 France U21 3 (1)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 4 December 2016.

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 1 August 2013

M'Baye Babacar Niang[1] (French pronunciation: ​[ˈm.be ˈniˈɑŋ]) (born 19 December 1994) is a French professional footballer who plays for Serie A club Milan. He plays primarily as a forward, though his influence can extend out to the wings and the attacking midfield positions.[3] Niang is described as "a phenomenon" and "a striker out of the ordinary", and in April 2011, he made his professional debut at the age of 16 in a league match with his former club Caen against Toulouse. His playing style has also drawn comparisons to former Milan teammate Mario Balotelli.[4][5] Niang has represented France at under-16, under-17 and under-21 level.[6]

Early career

Niang was born in Meulan, a commune in the Yvelines department of the Île-de-France region, to Senegalese parents.[6] He began his football career at the age of seven playing for local club Basse-Seine Les Mureaux. Niang spent two years at the club before being spotted by amateur club Poissy.[6] After hearing of the player through word of mouth, Niang was spotted by professional club Caen scouts Laurent Glaize and David Lasry.[6] Glaize later stated that before scouting the player, he was informed that Niang was possibly a présu, a player claiming to be younger than his actual date of birth. The claim was made primarily because of Niang's height, which stood at 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) when he was 13 years old.[4] Despite the claim, the scouts continued to pursue Niang, who was also being linked to other professional clubs in France, such as Lille and Paris Saint-Germain.[4]

Caen

Niang joined Caen's youth academy at the age of 13 after excelling at a trial, in which he scored a hat-trick.[4] He quickly ascended up the club's youth hierarchy and, by the age of 15, was already featuring with the club's under-19 team.[6] Niang was described by the team's coach Philippe Tranchant as a player with "huge potential" while also stating "we’ve never seen a player like him at the club before".[4] After spending the second part of the 2009–10 season with the under-19 team, Niang was promoted to the club's reserve team in the Championnat de France amateur, the fourth level of French football, ahead of the 2010–11 season. He made his reserve team debut on 14 August 2010 in a 0–0 draw with Avranches.[7] In the team's ensuing match against Moulins, Niang scored the only goal for the team in a 1–1 draw.[8] On 12 September, he scored both team goals in a 2–2 draw with the reserve team of professional club Lorient.[9] After becoming the team's top scorer after its first six matches, Niang began earning praise from the local media who began predicting when the player would be called up to the senior team.[6] He was also linked to several clubs abroad such as Italian club Juventus and English clubs Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.[10] The latter club reportedly offered Caen €8 million for the player.[1]

On 18 February 2011, Niang signed his first professional contract agreeing to a three-year deal with Caen.[11] He was called up the senior team for the first time on 23 April 2011 for the team's league match against Toulouse that was played on the following day.[12] Niang was assigned the squad number 9 shirt and made his professional debut in the match appearing as a second-half substitute as the match ended in a 1–1 draw.[5] At 16 years and 114 days, Niang's appearance in the match made him the youngest player ever to appear for Caen in the club's history.[13] A week later, he made his first professional start in a 4–0 away win over Nice.[14] On 7 May, Niang scored his first professional goal in a 1–1 draw with Lens.[15] The goal made him the second youngest player to score a goal in Ligue 1 behind Laurent Roussey.[16] In the team's next match against Rennes, Niang appeared as a substitute and scored the equalizing goal four minutes after coming on.[17] In the team's final league match of the season against Marseille, he converted the team's second goal, which put Caen 2–0 up. Marseille later scored two unanswered goals to draw the match 2–2.[18] Niang finished the campaign with seven appearances, of which four were starts, and three league goals.

Prior to the start of the 2011–12 season, Niang's professional contract became subject to debate after French newspaper Le Parisien revealed that his father did not agree to the signing of the contract.[19] Due to Niang being a minor, it is required by French law that both parents of the player agree to the contract.[20] Despite reportedly being present during the signing of the contract, Niang's father, through his lawyer, threatened to begin "a procedure for revocation of the contract".[21] Despite the contract issues, Niang remained a Caen player and made his season debut on 13 August 2011 in a 2–1 win over Sochaux.[22] On 24 September, he scored his first goal of the campaign in a 4–2 away win over Evian.[23] Niang's only other goal during the season came in the 1–1 draw away to Nancy.[24]

Milan

Before the start of the 2012–13 season, it was reported that Niang had gone on trial with English clubs Arsenal, Everton and Tottenham.[25][26] On 27 August 2012, it was confirmed that Niang was in negotiations with Italian club Milan after arriving in the city and having dinner with club vice-president Adriano Galliani.[27][28] On the following day, the move was confirmed on Milan's official website.[29] Niang signed a three-year contract, while the transfer fee was undisclosed.[30]

On 13 December 2012, in the Coppa Italia 5th Round game against Reggina, Niang came on as a substitute and scored with the match ending in a 3–0 win. The goal in the 70th minute put Niang into the history books as the second-youngest goal scorer in Milan history at 17 years and 350 days. On his 18th birthday, Niang signed a contract extension with Milan, keeping him at the club until 2017.[31]

Montpellier HSC (loan)

In January 2014, Niang joined Montpellier on loan.[32] He made 19 appearances, scoring 4 goals.

Genoa (loan)

In January 2015, Niang was loaned to fellow Italian club Genoa in the transfer window for the remainder of the season. He went on to score 5 goals in his 14 appearances with Genoa before being sent back to Milan following the injury he sustained.

Return to Milan

Niang suffered a fractured metatarsal when Milan faced Bayern Munich in the pre-season Audi Cup tournament, causing him to miss the start of 2015–16 season. He returned to the field in a 0–0 draw against Atalanta. He then scored his first brace in Serie A for Milan as the team cruised past Sampdoria with a 4–1 win on 28 November 2015 at the San Siro.[33]

In January 2016, it was reported that Milan had rejected a €16 million bid from English club Leicester City for Niang. On 31 January, he scored the final goal in the Derby della Madonnina against Internazionale, helping Milan triumph 3–0, then scoring again in a 2–0 defeat of Palermo three days later and at home against Udinese, reaching his personal goal scoring record in a single season. However, he was involved in a car accident on March 2016, which kept him out of the season for almost 2 months. He returned for Milan as a substitute during the final few minutes against Juventus in the Coppa Italia final on 21 May 2016, which was won by Juventus by a scoreline 1-0.

2016-2017

Niang started the first game of the season for Milan in the 2016-2017 campaign in Serie A against Torino F.C., which Milan won 3-2. He started the subsequent game against Napoli on 27 August 2016, which Milan lost 4-2 away from home. Niang managed to get on the scoresheet, but was sent off in the 87th minute for trying to grab Pepe Reina while he was trying to offload the ball.

International career

Niang is a France youth international, having represented his nation at under-16, under-17, under-21 level.[6] In December 2009, he earned his first international call-up at under-16 level under coach Patrick Gonfalone for friendly matches against Belgium. Niang made his youth international debut in the first match against Belgium in a 4–1 win.[34][35] In the second match against Belgium held two days later, he scored the only goal in a 1–0 win.[36] Niang returned to the under-16 team in January 2010 to participate in the 2010 edition of the Aegean Cup in Turkey.[37] In the competition, he appeared in all four matches France contested. He scored two goals; both in group stage victories over the Czech Republic and Romania.[38][39] France won the competition after defeating the hosts 3–1 in the final to become the competition's two-time defending champions.[40] Afterwards, Niang failed to earn a call-up under Gonfalone at under-16 level, which resulted in the player missing the Montaigu Tournament.

At under-17 level, Niang was among Gonfalone's first call-ups and made his debut at a European tournament in Serbia in the team's opening group stage match against the hosts.[41] In first round qualification for the 2011 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship, he appeared in all three group stage matches as France finished the round in the second place behind Italy. Despite appearing in the team's first eight matches, Gonfalone did not call Niang up again for the under-17 team. He, subsequently, missed both the UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship and 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Due to being born in France to Senegalese parents, Niang is eligible to represent the Senegal national team at international level. In May 2011, Senegalese media reported that Niang was named to the Senegal under-23 team to participate in 2011 CAF U-23 Championship qualification matches in June 2011.[42] After this report was deemed inaccurate, in July 2011, it was reported that Niang had announced his desire to represent Senegal at senior international level.[43] Later that month, he was named to the Senegal squad to face Morocco in August.[44] On 4 August, Niang distanced himself from the reports and re-affirmed his desire to represent France at international level.[45][46] He later stated, "First, I never said that I had chosen Senegal or France. The only words I have spoken is that, for now, I prefer the French youth teams."[47]

On the same day after reaffirming his decision to represent France, Niang bypassed three international levels and was called up to the France under-21 team by coach Erick Mombaerts to participate in a three-day training camp at the Clairefontaine academy.[48] In September 2011, he was called up for the second consecutive time by Mombaerts for a 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification match against Latvia on 2 September and a friendly against Portugal on 5 September.[49] He made his under-21 debut in the qualifier against Latvia appearing as a substitute in the 72nd minute. After 15 minutes on the field, Niang scored his first goal for the team. France won the match 3–0.[50] In November 2012, Niang was banned from representing the French national team until 31 December 2013 for visiting a nightclub while breaking a night time curfew.[51][52]

Career statistics

As of 4 December 2016.[53]
Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Caen 2010–11 Ligue 1 7300—0073
2011–12 23200—00232
Total 30500—00305
Milan 2012–13 Serie A 2002[lower-alpha 1]12[lower-alpha 2]000241
2013–14 80001[lower-alpha 2]00090
2014–15 5000000050
2015–16 1655[lower-alpha 1]3—00198
2016–17 13300—00133
Total 6287430007012
Montpellier (loan) 2013–14 Ligue 1 1943[lower-alpha 3]10000225
Total 194310000225
Genoa (loan) 2014–15 Serie A 14500—00145
Total 14500—00145
Career Total 12522105300013827
  1. 1 2 Appearances in Coppa Italia.
  2. 1 2 Appearances in UEFA Champions League.
  3. ↑ Appearances in Coupe de France.

Controversies

At the beginning of the 2012–13 season, Niang was stopped by the police in Milan for driving without a driver's license.[54] It was reported that Niang told the Carabinieri police that he was teammate Bakaye Traoré, an act which he subsequently denied.[55]

In February 2014, Niang crashed his Ferrari into a tree and was sentenced to a suspended 18-month jail sentenced for an alleged hit-and-run accident which left 11 others injured. The player was also charged with endangering people's lives and driving without a licence.[56]

In March 2016, Niang had been involved in a car crash over the weekend, though it was made clear he was not under the influence of alcohol. Milan confirmed that Niang has suffered an injury to the capsular ligament in his left ankle, as well as bruising to his left shoulder following a car accident.[57]

In June 2016, Niang who just came back from a 2-month lay off due to a car accident, jumped off the roof of his house into a pool and posted a video on social media. It drew criticism from fans and people alike, who branded him an 'idiot' and a 'clown' for performing this dangerous stunt. There were rumors that the club were furious with this and were prepared to sell him during the summer window, but however he was forgiven.[58]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Niang, Caen n'est pas vendeur". Mercato365 (in French). 29 June 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
  2. ↑ M'Baye Niang – A.C. Milan profile. acmilan.com. A.C. Milan.
  3. ↑ "Le sénégalais Mbaye Niang va jouer pour la première fois en première division". Dakar Foot (in French). 23 April 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Caen pin hopes on 16-year-old 6ft striker compared to Sammy Davis Junior". FourFourTwo (in French). 13 May 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  5. 1 2 "Caen v. Toulouse Match Report". Ligue de Football Professionnel (in French). 24 April 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "M'Baye Niang, l'ado-footballeur crée le buzz". Ouest-France (in French). 20 October 2010. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
  7. ↑ "Avranches v. Caen B Match Report". Foot-National (in French). 14 August 2010. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  8. ↑ "Caen B v. Moulins Match Report". Foot-National (in French). 22 August 2010. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  9. ↑ "Lorient B v. Caen B Match Report". Foot-National (in French). 12 September 2010. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  10. ↑ "À Caen le nouveau Niang?". FootMercato (in French). 20 November 2010. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
  11. ↑ "Niang passe pro". L'Equipe (in French). 18 February 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  12. ↑ "Première pour Mbaye Niang". Olympique Football Club Les Mureaux (in French). 23 April 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  13. ↑ "Niang, jeune premier". Eurosport (in French). 24 April 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  14. ↑ "Nice v. Caen Match Report". Ligue de Football Professionnel (in French). 1 May 2011. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
  15. ↑ "Caen v. Lens Match Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 7 May 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  16. ↑ "Ligue 1 – Niang, sauveur à 16 ans" (in French). Yahoo!. 11 May 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  17. ↑ "Rennes v. Caen Match Report". Ligue de Football Professionnel (in French). 11 May 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  18. ↑ "Caen v. Marseille Match Report". Ligue de Football Professionnel (in French). 29 May 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  19. ↑ "Caen pourrait perdre son prodige". Le Parisien (in French). 21 July 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  20. ↑ "Ça continue de s'agiter autour de M'Baye Niang". Ouest-France (in French). 22 July 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  21. ↑ "M'Baye Niang: son contrat contesté". France 3 (in French). 21 July 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  22. ↑ "Sochaux v. Caen Match Report". Ligue de Football Professionnel (in French). 13 August 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  23. ↑ "Evian v. Caen Match Report". Ligue de Football Professionnel (in French). 24 September 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  24. ↑ "Commentary: AS Nancy Lorraine v Caen – French Ligue 1 – ESPN Soccernet". ESPN. 29 April 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  25. ↑ "Niang set for Gunners trial". Sky Sports. 9 July 2012. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  26. ↑ "Prodigious France striker Niang opts for AC Milan ahead of Everton, Arsenal and Spurs". Daily Mail. 28 August 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  27. ↑ "Ore 21.30: Adriano Galliani atterra a linate con Mbaye Niang". A.C. Milan (in Italian). 27 August 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  28. ↑ "Da Giannino: Adriano Galliani e Mbaye Niang a Cena". A.C. Milan (in Italian). 27 August 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  29. ↑ "Niang: A.C. Milan Comunicato Ufficiale". A.C. Milan (in Italian). 28 August 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  30. ↑ "Milan swoop for French youngster Niang". Yahoo! Sports. 28 August 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  31. ↑ "DAY TO REMEMBER FOR NIANG". A.C. Milan Official Website. 20 December 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  32. ↑ "Mbaye Niang à Grammont ce samedi" (in French). Montpellier HSC. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  33. ↑ Sport, PA. "AC Milan cruise past Sampdoria with M'Baye Niang brace". ESPN FC. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
  34. ↑ "Première victoire face aux Belges (4–1)". French Football Federation (in French). 2 December 2009. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  35. ↑ "France v. Belgique 01/12/2009 U16 – Amical". French Football Federation (in French). 2 December 2009. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  36. ↑ "Deuxième succès (1–0)". French Football Federation (in French). 3 December 2009. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  37. ↑ "Aegean Cup (22/01 au 01/02 2010)". French Football Federation (in French). 4 January 2010. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  38. ↑ "Entrée en matière réussie (3–1)". French Football Federation (in French). 24 January 2010. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  39. ↑ "La passe de trois pour les mini-Bleus". French Football Federation (in French). 28 January 2010. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  40. ↑ "Les Bleus remportent la finale (3–1)". French Football Federation (in French). 30 January 2010. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  41. ↑ "Serbie v. France 24/08/2010 U17 – Amical". French Football Federation (in French). 24 August 2010. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  42. ↑ "Mbaye Niang attendu contre les olympiques tunisiens (entraîneur)". Dakar Foot (in French). 30 May 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  43. ↑ "Binationaux: Mbaye Niang opte pour le Sénégal". Dakar Foot (in French). 4 July 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  44. ↑ "Mbaye Niang convoqué chez les Lions". Dakar Foot (in French). 26 July 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  45. ↑ "Caen: Mb.Niang préfère les Bleus". Sport365 (in French). 4 August 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2011.
  46. ↑ "Bleuets M'Baye Niang a choisi la France". L'Equipe (in French). 4 August 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  47. ↑ "Mbaye Niang, surclassé authentique". Football-Mag (in French). 10 October 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  48. ↑ "M'Baye Niang appelé". L'Equipe (in French). 4 August 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  49. ↑ "Bulot et Niang avec les espoirs". Stade Malherbe Caen (in French). 25 August 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  50. ↑ "France make flying start in Latvia". Union of European Football Associations (in French). 2 September 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  51. ↑ "Five French players banned after nightclub visit". Yahoo!. 9 November 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
  52. ↑ Adam Digby (8 November 2012). "Milan ready to dump Niang – report". ESPN FC. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
  53. ↑ M'Baye Niang profile at Soccerway
  54. ↑ Jack Leather (10 September 2012). "M'Baye Niang stopped for driving offence – gives teammate's name". Metro. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
  55. ↑ "Mbaye Niang denies telling police he was Bakaye Traore". ghanamma.com. 13 September 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
  56. ↑ "AC Milan loanee Niang handed 18-month suspended prison sentence". Goal.com. 24 February 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  57. ↑ "Niang crash causes ankle injury". Football-Italia. 29 February 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  58. ↑ Darren Boyle (9 June 2016). "£11 million AC Milan star is criticised for jumping off a roof into a swimming pool just weeks after returning to the team following a three-month lay-off due to injury". Daily Mail. Retrieved 4 December 2016.

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