Who is Robinio Vaz, Marseille's 17-year-old gamechanger?

Olympique de Marseille were frustrated by a solid Strasbourg side last night at the Stade Vélodrome. Despite the draw, there is reason to be optimistic at Marseille with the promising debut of 17-year-old Robinio Vaz, who replaced Neal Maupay for the second half and won the penalty that was converted by Mason Greenwood to get Les Olympiens level against Les Alsatiens.

After tasting action in the Coupe de France against Lille only a few days earlier, he made his Ligue 1 McDonald's debut on Sunday evening. The situation was worrying for OM, who were trailing to a Strasbourg side that had perfectly played their hand in the first half and were one goal ahead thanks to a strike from Emmanuel Emegha. Yet, Les Olympiens gave more in the second half, and Vaz's substitution had changed the dynamic in OM's front three.

Neal Maupay has been Roberto De Zerbi's preferred striker so far this season, but the former OGC Nice man had played most of Marseille's three matches in the previous week of action. Fatigued by the end of the first half, the Frenchman was switched for the young striker who signed his first professional contract with the club when he moved from Sochaux last summer. Speaking before the game, De Zerbi already admitted the youngster was on his radar for playing time. "He's really strong. He has to keep his head on his shoulders. He has this desire, this hunger, and it's a source of pride to give him playing time."

Hitting the ground running, under Papin and now Roberto De Zerbi

Vaz was born in 2007 in Mantes-la-Jolie, in Paris's surrounding region. Since U17 level, he had been playing in the youth academy of Sochaux. Instead of signing a professional contract with the third tier side, Vaz signed for Olympique de Marseille B last summer, and has since been shining with OM's reserve side who play in National 3, the fifth tier of French senior football.

At the start of the season, Vaz hit the ground running  under Ballon D'Or winner and Marseille legend Jean-Pierre Papin. In his first six matches he managed to score four goals, quickly endearing himself to his coach. "He's a very interesting player," Papin told La Provence following a victory over Corsican side Sud FC. "We've found a very good player. What he's doing at 17... when he's spent a year in N3 (fifth tier), he'll be a whole different player."

A big physical presence up front, Vaz has a powerful mix of explosive pace and as well as an ability to win duels and bully defenders. During his debut against Strasbourg, he demonstrated it perfectly, feinting to bait Andrey Santos into committing the foul for OM's equalising penalty. In the latter stages of the game, he managed to steal the ball off the RCSA backline, but his injury-time strike on goal was blocked well by keeper Petrovic.

"I play those who deserve it, and he gave us energy," said Roberto De Zerbi in his post-match press conference. "He needs to keep working. He was born in 2007, so we have to manage him, but I'm not afraid of playing young players. I even hesitated to start him tonight."

With a promising debut under his belt, Robinio Vaz will be one to watch for the rest of Marseille's season. Les Olympiens face a trip to OGC Nice next up in their Ligue 1 McDonald's campaign. 

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>>RECAP: Strasbourg hold Marseille to draw at the Vélodrome