He was battling in the Spanish second division two years ago, and earlier this season he was not being accepted into the Villarreal squad. Five years ago, he was not even representing a professional club in Senegal.
However, a stellar campaign finale attracted clubs from across Europe, and Chelsea decided to spend £32 million and sign him to an eight-year contract. Between April and June, Jackson outscored every player in the top five leagues in Europe with nine goals in eight LaLiga games, which led to a significant transfer to Stamford Bridge.
According to Nacho Sanchis, a local sports reporter for the Spanish website Relevo, “His ҽxplosion has been extraordinary because 10 months ago he didn’t even start for Villarreal,” Nacho Sanchis told Standard Sport. “Only in this last period did people feel he could become a top player,” said the author. “He went from being a bench player to a goalscorer and is moving to Chelsea in the blink of an eye. Even inside Villarreal, nobody anticipated his explosive outburst.
Jackson gained the moniker “Senegalese Neymar” in his own nation thanks to his explosive speed and acceleration as well as his ability to dribble.
His recent string of goals for Villarreal were largely the result of his quick dribbling, intense pressure, and sneaking through defenses. At 6 feet 2 inches, he needs to work on his build-up play and his heading is a weakness, but he has mastered leading the line and stretching defenses. Unai Emery, the manager of Villarreal at the time, tried to replace him last summer but was unable to sign Umar Sadiq from Almeria, his primary target. After Villarreal agreed to sell him for £22 million, Jackson came very close to joining Bournemouth in January but was unable to pass a medical because of a hamstring problem.
He concluded the year with 12 goals in 26 league appearances, making him the top player in LaLiga in the closing stages of the season. Villarreal has been pleasantly pleased by the emergence of a player who, when he first joined the team at the age of 18, they did not even think merited a news release.
He was only included in Senegal’s World Cup roster when Sadio Mane withdrew due to injᴜry. However, Chelsea’s data-driven scouting goes beyond reputation and has seen a chance in what they may consider to be a rough diamond with significant potential.
Jackson has just played 1,758 minutes in the Premier League, but his path from playing street football in Ziguinchor to Stamford Bridge suggests he will rise to the challenge of making an impact there.
Beyond reputation, Chelsea’s data-driven scouting has identified an opportunity in what they perceive to be a rough diamond with genuine potential.
Jackson was signed by Cherif Sadio for Casa Sports, one of the top teams in Senegal, when he was 16 years old. Cherif has always had faith in Jackson’s potential.
Sadio Mane, one of the young man’s idols, said, “He showed us that he had everything needed to be a future star like Sadio Mane, one of his role models.” “Nicolas did soccer moves that many people can’t even do on grass fields.
“Nicolas is a man who solely thinks about football, nothing else. He is tactful, composed, and driven.
He is highly disciplined and modest. He still hangs out with his childhood buddies, comes from a good family, and his agent, Diomansy Kamara, used to play in the Premier League.
He doesn’t go out much off the field, but he wants to advance in his career as a footballer, and I have no doubt that he will.
