Hearts trained Serie A star Aaron Hickey named among world's best young footballers

Hearts' Aaron Hickey during the Ladbrokes Premiership match between Heart of Midlothian and Rangers at Tynecastle Park on October 20, 2019, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Foy / SNS Group)

The defender left Tynecastle last year to join Bologna in a deal approaching half a million pounds and the switch to Italian football has suited the 18-year-old, who has played 11 times since September and is now attracted attention for his Serie A showings.

Hickey was named in L’Equipe’s top 50 young players, aged under 20 – born in 2001 or later.

What made Aaron Hickey the most exciting Hearts prospect in almost a decade

Hearts' Aaron Hickey is pictured as he departs for Italy ahead of a move to Bologna, at Glasgow Airport, on September 09, 2020, in Glasgow, Scotland (Photo by Mark Scates / SNS Group)

Barcelona’s Ansu Fati heads the prestigious list, and the Nou Camp star is followed by highly-rated midfielder Jude Bellingham who moved to the Bundesliga for £22.75m last summer.

Mason Greenwood of Manchester United is also highly ranked by the French outlet’s assessors, but Hickey has also merited inclusion at number 45.

Performances at Tynecastle attracted interest from the likes of Bayern Munich, Manchester City and another of his youth sides Celtic, before he opted for Italy.

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