Matar Thiam: Aris's new bet from Senegal

Greek football club Aris Thessaloniki is placing its hopes on 18-year-old Senegalese prospect Matar Thiam, marking a continued investment in young talent from West Africa. This move follows the club's successful strategy of exploring the Senegalese market, which previously yielded promising results.

Two years ago, Aris brought Clayton Diandy from Senegal, marking their initial foray into the market as they shifted away from Latin American players. Diandy quickly demonstrated his potential, and a subsequent loan to Al-Diriyah generated €1.5 million for the club, proving the financial viability of this scouting approach.

Thiam has been a consistent presence in the team's training sessions over the last year. However, his inability to sign a professional contract or play officially was due to his minor status. He could only officially join the roster after turning 18 and recently completed his integration into the team following a preliminary agreement.

Aris holds high expectations for Thiam, comparing his potential to that of Diandy. The club aims to integrate him into the first-team rotation for the upcoming season. His immediate focus will be on making significant progress during the summer training camp to increase his chances of securing playing time, mirroring the development path of previous successful signings.