Name: Ryan Gauld
Squad Number:19
Position: Midfielder
Birth Place:Aberdeen
Date of Birth: 16 December 1995
Height: 5ft 5
Previous Clubs: Brechin City BC
Date Signed 30 June 2011
Debut (as sub): May 13th, 2012 vs. Motherwell
Linked with Sunderland in Aug 2013
Linked with Real Madrid in Sep 2013
Linked with Man Utd and scouted by Newcastle, Liverpool and Everton in Nov 2013
Called up to Scottish U21 team at age of 17 in Nov 2013
[article=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/dundee-united-kid-ryan-gauld-2785846]THE only thing Messi about Ryan Gauld is his bedroom.
And the fact he’s still ordered to tidy it by his parents in Laurencekirk will ensure he never takes comparisons between himself and Barcelona superstar Lionel too seriously.
It would be easy for the 17-year-old to believe in his own hype. After all, how many Scottish teenagers are linked with a move to Real Madrid?
But Gauld’s upbringing in the Angus town means his tiny feet are still firmly on the ground.
The Dundee United whizz-kid has taken the Premiership by storm this season.
His ability on the ball, allied to his work rate and attitude, has made Gauld the hottest prospect in our game.
And at just 5ft 5ins, the Baby Messi nickname was inevitable.
But as he prepared for his first Scotland Under-21 cap tomorrow night, Gauld revealed he’d be embarrassed to try any of the little Argentine’s bag of tricks.
And he revealed the rumours about being on Carlo Ancelotti’s radar at the Bernabeu went in one ear and straight out the other.
Gauld said: “I’m aware of the hype surrounding me but I haven’t taken any of it in.
“I hear and see things but they leave my head straight away. I don’t think about them – I just get on with my football.
“My mum and dad make sure it doesn’t get to me. I can’t let things change no matter how much my name gets mentioned. I know I have to keep working hard at Dundee United.
“I still stay at home in Laurencekirk and I’m treated like any normal teenager. Nothing has changed.
“My mum still gets me to do all the usual jobs around the house like tidying my room.
“So my life hasn’t changed much. Obviously if I make a good impact on the pitch, I’ll be talked about even more. And that’s my aim, to do well on the pitch every time I play.
“But the rest of it just comes with the job, it’s not something I can help and it’s a good sign if my name’s being mentioned.”
Being christened Baby Messi by his Tannadice team-mates was always going to put pressure on Gauld to perform.
But the youngster finds it comical and confessed he’s as mesmerised by the Barca man’s sublime skills as anyone.
He said: “It’s more the people my own age, rather than the older boys, who take the mickey out of me about that. I don’t read anything into it all.
“Maybe one day all that can come into play. All the headlines can be a bit baffling but I don’t let them get into my head.
“I’ve watched Messi ever since he started playing in Barcelona’s first team and he’s the best player in the world. He is someone I would always look up to and try to base my game around.
“But you can’t compare anyone with Messi because he is from a different planet. I see him do things and think, ‘how the hell has he done that?’. I don’t tend to try them in case I end up embarrassing myself.”
Gauld recently signed a new long-term deal with United and rejected the chance to let his contract run down before moving to England or abroad.
Such is the level head on his shoulders, he’s adamant staying on Tayside will aid his development far more than joining a bigger club where he may not feature.
He appreciates what he has, which isn’t always the case with Scotland’s talented young players.
Gauld said: “Some of my pals from Laurencekirk are at university but others are doing small jobs.
“It’s a quiet place with not much to do. But myself, John Souttar and Euan Spark – who all signed new contracts at United – played for the same boys club there. We’ve all grown up together and are now doing OK for ourselves.
“Staying at home is best for me right now, that’s why I signed. If I was to move I might not get first-team games and that’s important for me at this stage.
“I need to continue to develop as a player. I’m only going to learn by playing games, so Dundee United is the best place for me.”
Gauld regards ex-United skills guru Ian Cathro as a huge influence on his career and feels Tannadice youth coach Stevie Campbell has been like a second father to him.
But it’s current gaffer Jackie McNamara who has given him the chance to shine on the big stage and that’s what earned him an Under-21 call-up.
And he’s hoping some of the rough treatment he’s already received from top-flight defenders will stand him in good stead for the Euro qualifier against Georgia in Paisley tomorrow night.
Gauld said: “The manager has been brilliant with me.
“I wasn’t expecting an Under-21 call-up but I’m excited. The Scottish Premiership is a physical league and I’m not the biggest. It’s about what I do on the ball and if I’m being fouled a lot, I must be doing a good job.”[/article]
