It has been quite a rise.
But Manzambi’s thirst to get better quickly caught the eye at Freiburg as he rose through the ranks following his move from Swiss side Servette in 2023.
After one particularly draining training session with the reserves went on far longer than planned, Manzambi even asked the then Freiburg II manager Benedetto Muzzicato if he could go over the game plan again because it “didn’t feel right”.
“He wants to improve every single day,” Muzzicato said. “If anything, you have to slow him down rather than motivate him.”
This mentality has been a constant throughout his burgeoning career and helps explain why Manzambi was on the radar of clubs long before the World Cup started.
He was a key cog in the Freiburg side who reached the Europa League final for the first time ever last season and followed in the footsteps of Rayan Cherki and Florian Wirtz by being named the competition’s young player of the season.
It was Manzambi’s first full campaign as a starter yet he racked up 13 goal involvements, including stunning long-range efforts against Bayern Munich and Braga in the Bundesliga and Europa League respectively.
Manzambi’s ball-carrying, close control and ability to make things happen all stood out, as did his versatility.
The Swiss has played in a variety of roles for club and country in the middle of the park, but he has the attributes to potentially excel as a box-to-box midfielder.
The data certainly suggests so.
Among players in the Bundesliga in his position, in 2025-26, Manzambi ranked first for 10-plus metre progressive carries (116), shot ending carries (13) and fouls won (78) as opponents tried to stop him.
He was second for total take-ons (71), opposition half take-ons (52) and total carry progress (2,476 metres).
Manzambi is far from the finished article but, fuelled by a “very healthy and positive drive”, in the words of Muzzicato, he will want to build on an impressive campaign.
“I remember knowing right after Johan’s first touch that he was something special,” he added.
“His natural talent and understanding of the game were obvious from the start. You could see it immediately.
“But, as a person, he is exactly the kind of player every coach wants in their team. He always wants to improve, asks the right questions and is eager to learn.”
