Eli Junior likened Bournemouth’s Karroubi to Kylian Mbappe after his goal against Wolverhampton

Karroubi’s talent was no secret, at least to his former teammates and coaches at boyhood club Lorient.

The youngest player to appear for the club in Ligue 1, Cropi became the youngest goalscorer in Lorient’s Ligue 1 history when he found the net against Nantes during the 2023-24 season, aged 17 years and 92 days.

After a particularly eye-catching display, former Chelsea midfielder and Lorient team-mate Tiemoue Bakayoko said of Karroupi: He is a phenomenon. Reminds me a little [Kylian] “Mbappe in terms of maturity in his game.”

There was certainly a hint of France and Real Madrid striker Mbappe in Krupi’s goal against Wolves, a cushioning first touch, quickly followed by a deadly second.

Only four players – Erling Haaland, Igor Thiago, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Semenyu – have scored more in the Premier League than Cropi this season.

And given the number of scoring chances Bournemouth tend to create, there could be more to come.

“I was very impressed with him, not just today, but all season,” Shay Given, the former Manchester City, Newcastle and Aston Villa goalkeeper, told the BBC. “It looks like he’s been here his whole life.”

Speaking to Match of the Day after the win over Molineux, Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott said: “We saw what Crupi did today.

“We have some great footballers here. We have some young players who are almost becoming stars.”

Scott may not have been referring to the 19-year-old alone, as Alex Jimenez continues to impress and Brazilian youngster Ryan provided the assist for Scott on his Bournemouth debut.

But the headlines on Saturday were for Karroubi.