Dijon Kameri: Salzburg's homegrown wonderkid earning Bruno Fernandes comparisons

Born in eastern Austria and of Kosovar-Albanian descent, Kameri's footballing talents were first spotted when he was playing in a schools tournament at around the age of seven.

Salzburg scouts took notice of his ability and invited him for a trial, before enrolling him in the club's academy system in 2012.

Kameri – who attracted interest from other European clubs as he advanced in years – gradually worked his way through the various age-group sides, making his debut for the Under-18s as a 16-year-old at the start of the 2020-21 season.

He captained Austria's U17s later that month as he was already regarded as the outstanding talent of his generation.

Like many of Salzburg's young players – whether homegrown or recruited – Kameri's first taste of senior football came for FC Liefering, the second division club that act as Salzburg's reserve team.

Kameri made his debut in August 2021, and was a regular starter throughout last season, albeit his raw attacking numbers do not make for eye-catching reading, as he scored just once and provided only four assists in 22 games.

It was a different story in the UEFA Youth League, however, as his stock grew massively due to a number of impressive performances as Salzburg reached the final.

Again Kameri's attacking output was nothing to shout about – two goals (including a screamer in the semi-final win over Atletico Madrid) and two assists in eight games.

But the way he was able to both dictate games with the ball and initiate the press without it allowed the Austrian side to make their way through the competition.

And though Salzburg were eventually thrashed 6-0 in the final by Benfica, Kameri's performances put him on the radar of the media and scouts alike.

So, it came as little shock when he was awarded a new four-year contract in the summer of 2022 while being officially promoted to the first-team squad.

Kameri did not have long to wait to make his first-team debut, and he ensured it was one to remember too, as he both scored and provided an assist in his 24-minute cameo against Austria Lustenau on August 17.

He backed that up by scoring a stunner in the Austrian Cup on his first start a few days later as he quickly earned the trust of manager Matthias Jaissle.

That trust was clear when Kameri was named in the Salzburg line-up for their opening Champions League game of the season, making him the second-youngest Austrian to ever start a game in the competition, behind only David Alaba.

He also came off the bench in Salzburg's draw away at Chelsea a week later, but he was then sidelined by a shoulder injury until their return clash, with Kameri making a late cameo in the 2-1 loss at the Red Bull Arena on matchday five.

A right-footed midfielder who can play as either a No.10 or a No.8, there is one action that defines Kameri's game: the through-ball.

Regardless of where he picks up possession on the pitch, Kameri's first thought is always to look forward and see if he can play his striker in behind the defence; either along the floor or over the top, his eye for the smallest window to thread the ball through is unnerving for a player of such inexperience.

He also possesses excellent long-range shooting ability, while his years in the Red Bull system make him an outstanding exponent of the high press, as he can be regularly seen robbing opposition defenders or deep-lying midfielders of the ball in dangerous positions.

If there is one area of the game that Kameri needs to improve, it is his goal and assist numbers, particularly given how much of an impact he can make in the final third.

Of course, modern analytics can measure a player's impact without such crude statistics, but there is no doubt that the very best playmakers are those who are regularly making direct contributions to the ball going in the net.

In truth, Kameri could be doing little more when it comes to creating chances for others, with assists as much about the person finishing the chance as it is the creator, but there is clearly room in Kameri's game for him to add more goals.

Many of his strikes come from long-range, and to take his game to the next level he likely needs to learn to get himself into the penalty area more regularly to provide the finishing touch to moves he may have been involved in earlier in the build-up.

Though it's not a one-to-one comparison, there is something of the Fernandes about the way Kameri is constantly looking forward to play in team-mates.

Both well-suited to teams who predominantly counter-attack but can also slot into possession-based sides, Kameri definitely has the raw tools to both reach and surpass Fernandes as his career develops.

Kameri's pressing ability, coupled with his on-the-ball skills, also brings to mind Mason Mount, and given his upbringing at Red Bull, the Austrian teenager is likely to be just as open to coaching as the Chelsea and England star.

If Kameri can recover from his injury and prove his fitness in time, then there is a chance that he will earn a first senior international call-up for Austria's November friendlies against Andorra and Italy.

"Kameri is doing really well. I wouldn't be surprised if he's an absolute regular at Salzburg next season," manager Ralf Rangnick told Salzburger Nachrichten in September. "If he is, he'll be really interesting for the national team."

There are sure to be other clubs who show an interest in Kameri's progress, too, though Salzburg are rarely in a rush to sell, and instead like to see a player through to the peak of their development before allowing them to leave.

That should mean Salzburg fans getting to enjoy a lot more of their homegrown wonderkid before he joins the likes of Haaland and Adeyemi in flying the nest to join one of Europe's truly elite clubs.

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