January’s transfer window is approaching, and most clubs have started to seriously think about how to reinforce their teams in order to achieve their seasonal targets.
Cementing their fame as the main exporter of footballers in the world, the Argentinean clubs, are preparing to another exodus of young talent.
We will have a look here at the most likely to pack their bags and board planes to the European continent, seeking glory and recognition.
The most talked about youngster at the moment is River Plate’s 17 years old striker
Lucas Ocampo:
It has everything that makes him attractive for the European giants. He is 6ft tall, very skilful, extremely hard to dispossess, especially when it gathers speed going forward.
He arrived at River Plate from Quilmes after excelling in the Argentinean under 15’s side in the South American championship of 2009, where he scored 2 goals.
He was also part of the National under 17’s for the SA championship, and World Cup earlier this year.
He has played only 9 official games for his club and has already scored 3 goals.
The club that sounds the most serious about getting Ocampo is Chelsea, but they will face competition from Totenham, and Atletico Madrid.
Paulo Dybala:
18 years old attacking midfielder/striker, who plays for Instituto de Cordoba. I have been impressed by him since he was very young.
He is from the province of Cordoba, and before playing for his current team, he represented his home town team of Sportivo Laguna Larga.
He arrived in Instituto at the age of 10! And soon after was already the talk of the city.
He was straight away nicknamed “la Joya” (the jewel) for his potential as a player.
Tremendously skilful with the ball on his feet, great vision to find spaces for himself and to play the pass to his team mates.
In August 2011 he made his debut on the first team, who are, at the moment leaders of the Nacional B (equivalent to the championship in England), thanks to his goals.
He has already scored a hat-trick and is amongst the top scorers on the league.
I foresee him landing a move either to Italy (Roma, Fiorentina or Palermo) or Portugal (Benfica, Porto or Sporting) on the next window, but if not surely in the summer.
Franco Vazquez:
He is a little bit older than the last 2. He is 22. Plays for Belgrano de Cordoba, a team recently promoted to the top tier of Argentinean football, and with a massive support in their province.
He is an attacking midfielder with great vision and on the ball skill.
He reads the game really well, and has attracted lots of interest from European clubs.
Palermo from Italy has secured his services, and I am sure he will develop there into a must see player.
A guy of few words (his nickname is “el mudo” the dumb), he lets his feet do the work for him.
Manuel Lanzini:
Another River Plate youngster with a bright future, Lanzini is nearly 19, is on loan to Fluminense in Brazil, where he is having a good season. He has scored 2 goals coming off the bench. He is a creative midfielder, nicknamed “la joya” (the jewell) His manager has made him understudy to Deco and that has helped his game immensely.
Fluminense would be happy to make the move permanent, but River has stipulated that it will cost in the region of €12m.
He has been watched by important European clubs (PSG,Arsenal, Ajax and Inter Milan), but the price tag may have to be lowered before a deal can be struck.
Giovanni Simeone:
The son of former Argentinean international Diego “cholo” Simeone, is a 16 years old Striker, who has recently signed a 3 years contract with River Plate.
Very prolific throughout his youth development, with an eye for goal and great ball control.
Foreseeing interest from abroad, the club wrote a buy out clause on his contract worth €15m.
Atletico Madrid scouts have already been seen watching the player who scored 20 goals in 26 games in 2010.
A bit early to feature them here, but Simeone’s other 2 sons, Gianluca and Giuliano are also in the youth divisions of River Plate.
The not so young ones
On this part, I will speculate about other players, not as young or not as certain to leave, but worth knowing their names.
Like with the youngsters, I have included an Argentinean player who plays abroad already.
Juan Manuel Martinez:
He is a 26 years old attacking midfielder come striker who plays for Velez Sarsfield of Buenos Aires.
He is nicknamed “el Burrito” (the little donkey) because of his similarities with Ariel Ortega of the same nickname.
He did all his youth development in Velez, but when he was not getting many games there, went on a few loans. First with Argentinos Juniors where he played really well gaining a return to Velez, then to Colombia with Cucuta Deportivo, then to Saudi Arabia with Al-Shabab Riyadh.
By 2008 he returned to Velez where he became a regular, even finishing top scorer in the Apertura 2010 tournament.
He has won 3 titles with Velez so far in 2005, 2009 and 2011 all Clausura tournament honours.
In 2010 he was named the best player of the year in Argentina
He was called up to play 3 friendly games for Argentina in 2011 (as a sub against Portugal, and starting twice against Brazil)
I will be surprised if he is not being watched by European clubs at the moment, so watch this space.
Gabriel Hauche:
He just turned 25 this month. He is a clever striker that plays for Racing Club.
His first club was Temperley (province of Buenos Aires), where he debuted in 2004, playing 54 games and scoring 9 goals.
He made his first steps on the top division when in 2006 he moved to Argentinos Juniors. There he played 124 games and scored 31 goals.
In 2010 he was acquired by Racing Club, where he is still playing regularly today.
His return there so far is 14 goals out of 64 games.
Maradona called him to represent his country for the first time in 2009, and up to now he has played 6 games and scored 3 goals for the Albiceleste.
My prediction is that he will end up either in England or Italy, more likely during next summer’s window.
Lucas Viatri:
24 years old Boca Juniors striker. Who spent shrt spells on loan at Emelec (Ecuador), and Maracaibo (Venezuela) during the times when Martin Palermo was unmovable from the Boca team.
When Palermo retired at the end of the last tournament, Viatri was given his chance to shine and he took it.
Fast, quick thinking and very physical, he has scored 24 goals in 97 games so far.
He is seriously injured at the moment, and may take some time to see him in action
Again.
He has one game for the National side playing against Ecuador on a friendly on April 2011.
He has lifted one league title winning the Apertura 2008, and one international title when Boca won the Recopa Sudamerica the same year.
Although he is still out injured at the moment, you should remember his name and watch this space.
Dario Conca:
Creative midfielder, who debuted in the 99/00 season, playing for Tigre when he was only 15 years of age.
That same year he was acquired by River Plate to play for the reserves there.
He only played his first game for the senior River team in 2003 under the Chilean Manager Manuel Pellegrini.
A change of coach in 2004, meant he was sold to Universidad Catolica of Chile, scoring on his debut against Cobreloa.
He became the talisman of the team and helped them reach the semi-finals of the Copa Sudamericana, and to the league title in the Torneo Clausura in Chile.
His return to Argentinean football in 2006, to Rosario Central, was ironically under the same manager that let him go from River Plate, Leonardo Astrada.
He played well there, and in 2008 the Brazilian team of Vasco da Gama bought him, and after only a year at Vasco, Fluminense came for him.
At Fluminense, he blossom and matured, becoming essential to a team that reached the finals of both, the Copa Libertadores (equal to the CL) in 2008, and the Copa Sudamericana of 2009. Losing to the same team, Liga de Quito (Ecuador), in the 2 competitions.
When his team won the 2010 Campeonato Brasileirao, he was chosen the best player of the tournament.
His trademark through passes and his incredible free-kicks won him many admirers there.
In 2011, aged 28, in a bizarre move he joined Guangzhou Evergrande Football Club, in China.
He has become the 6th best paid player in the planet (after Messi, Ronaldo, Rooney, Yaya Toure and Samuel Eto’o) and won the best player of the year award on his first season there.
A delightful player to watch, unlikely to come to Europe because of his huge wages, but I learnt that you never say never in football.
On the next instalment I will be looking at some of the Argentineans already playing in Europe, that could be on the move.
Cementing their fame as the main exporter of footballers in the world, the Argentinean clubs, are preparing to another exodus of young talent.
We will have a look here at the most likely to pack their bags and board planes to the European continent, seeking glory and recognition.
The most talked about youngster at the moment is River Plate’s 17 years old striker
Lucas Ocampo:
It has everything that makes him attractive for the European giants. He is 6ft tall, very skilful, extremely hard to dispossess, especially when it gathers speed going forward.
He arrived at River Plate from Quilmes after excelling in the Argentinean under 15’s side in the South American championship of 2009, where he scored 2 goals.
He was also part of the National under 17’s for the SA championship, and World Cup earlier this year.
He has played only 9 official games for his club and has already scored 3 goals.
The club that sounds the most serious about getting Ocampo is Chelsea, but they will face competition from Totenham, and Atletico Madrid.
Paulo Dybala:
18 years old attacking midfielder/striker, who plays for Instituto de Cordoba. I have been impressed by him since he was very young.
He is from the province of Cordoba, and before playing for his current team, he represented his home town team of Sportivo Laguna Larga.
He arrived in Instituto at the age of 10! And soon after was already the talk of the city.
He was straight away nicknamed “la Joya” (the jewel) for his potential as a player.
Tremendously skilful with the ball on his feet, great vision to find spaces for himself and to play the pass to his team mates.
In August 2011 he made his debut on the first team, who are, at the moment leaders of the Nacional B (equivalent to the championship in England), thanks to his goals.
He has already scored a hat-trick and is amongst the top scorers on the league.
I foresee him landing a move either to Italy (Roma, Fiorentina or Palermo) or Portugal (Benfica, Porto or Sporting) on the next window, but if not surely in the summer.
Franco Vazquez:
He is a little bit older than the last 2. He is 22. Plays for Belgrano de Cordoba, a team recently promoted to the top tier of Argentinean football, and with a massive support in their province.
He is an attacking midfielder with great vision and on the ball skill.
He reads the game really well, and has attracted lots of interest from European clubs.
Palermo from Italy has secured his services, and I am sure he will develop there into a must see player.
A guy of few words (his nickname is “el mudo” the dumb), he lets his feet do the work for him.
Manuel Lanzini:
Another River Plate youngster with a bright future, Lanzini is nearly 19, is on loan to Fluminense in Brazil, where he is having a good season. He has scored 2 goals coming off the bench. He is a creative midfielder, nicknamed “la joya” (the jewell) His manager has made him understudy to Deco and that has helped his game immensely.
Fluminense would be happy to make the move permanent, but River has stipulated that it will cost in the region of €12m.
He has been watched by important European clubs (PSG,Arsenal, Ajax and Inter Milan), but the price tag may have to be lowered before a deal can be struck.
Giovanni Simeone:
The son of former Argentinean international Diego “cholo” Simeone, is a 16 years old Striker, who has recently signed a 3 years contract with River Plate.
Very prolific throughout his youth development, with an eye for goal and great ball control.
Foreseeing interest from abroad, the club wrote a buy out clause on his contract worth €15m.
Atletico Madrid scouts have already been seen watching the player who scored 20 goals in 26 games in 2010.
A bit early to feature them here, but Simeone’s other 2 sons, Gianluca and Giuliano are also in the youth divisions of River Plate.
The not so young ones
On this part, I will speculate about other players, not as young or not as certain to leave, but worth knowing their names.
Like with the youngsters, I have included an Argentinean player who plays abroad already.
Juan Manuel Martinez:
He is a 26 years old attacking midfielder come striker who plays for Velez Sarsfield of Buenos Aires.
He is nicknamed “el Burrito” (the little donkey) because of his similarities with Ariel Ortega of the same nickname.
He did all his youth development in Velez, but when he was not getting many games there, went on a few loans. First with Argentinos Juniors where he played really well gaining a return to Velez, then to Colombia with Cucuta Deportivo, then to Saudi Arabia with Al-Shabab Riyadh.
By 2008 he returned to Velez where he became a regular, even finishing top scorer in the Apertura 2010 tournament.
He has won 3 titles with Velez so far in 2005, 2009 and 2011 all Clausura tournament honours.
In 2010 he was named the best player of the year in Argentina
He was called up to play 3 friendly games for Argentina in 2011 (as a sub against Portugal, and starting twice against Brazil)
I will be surprised if he is not being watched by European clubs at the moment, so watch this space.
Gabriel Hauche:
He just turned 25 this month. He is a clever striker that plays for Racing Club.
His first club was Temperley (province of Buenos Aires), where he debuted in 2004, playing 54 games and scoring 9 goals.
He made his first steps on the top division when in 2006 he moved to Argentinos Juniors. There he played 124 games and scored 31 goals.
In 2010 he was acquired by Racing Club, where he is still playing regularly today.
His return there so far is 14 goals out of 64 games.
Maradona called him to represent his country for the first time in 2009, and up to now he has played 6 games and scored 3 goals for the Albiceleste.
My prediction is that he will end up either in England or Italy, more likely during next summer’s window.
Lucas Viatri:
24 years old Boca Juniors striker. Who spent shrt spells on loan at Emelec (Ecuador), and Maracaibo (Venezuela) during the times when Martin Palermo was unmovable from the Boca team.
When Palermo retired at the end of the last tournament, Viatri was given his chance to shine and he took it.
Fast, quick thinking and very physical, he has scored 24 goals in 97 games so far.
He is seriously injured at the moment, and may take some time to see him in action
Again.
He has one game for the National side playing against Ecuador on a friendly on April 2011.
He has lifted one league title winning the Apertura 2008, and one international title when Boca won the Recopa Sudamerica the same year.
Although he is still out injured at the moment, you should remember his name and watch this space.
Dario Conca:
Creative midfielder, who debuted in the 99/00 season, playing for Tigre when he was only 15 years of age.
That same year he was acquired by River Plate to play for the reserves there.
He only played his first game for the senior River team in 2003 under the Chilean Manager Manuel Pellegrini.
A change of coach in 2004, meant he was sold to Universidad Catolica of Chile, scoring on his debut against Cobreloa.
He became the talisman of the team and helped them reach the semi-finals of the Copa Sudamericana, and to the league title in the Torneo Clausura in Chile.
His return to Argentinean football in 2006, to Rosario Central, was ironically under the same manager that let him go from River Plate, Leonardo Astrada.
He played well there, and in 2008 the Brazilian team of Vasco da Gama bought him, and after only a year at Vasco, Fluminense came for him.
At Fluminense, he blossom and matured, becoming essential to a team that reached the finals of both, the Copa Libertadores (equal to the CL) in 2008, and the Copa Sudamericana of 2009. Losing to the same team, Liga de Quito (Ecuador), in the 2 competitions.
When his team won the 2010 Campeonato Brasileirao, he was chosen the best player of the tournament.
His trademark through passes and his incredible free-kicks won him many admirers there.
In 2011, aged 28, in a bizarre move he joined Guangzhou Evergrande Football Club, in China.
He has become the 6th best paid player in the planet (after Messi, Ronaldo, Rooney, Yaya Toure and Samuel Eto’o) and won the best player of the year award on his first season there.
A delightful player to watch, unlikely to come to Europe because of his huge wages, but I learnt that you never say never in football.
On the next instalment I will be looking at some of the Argentineans already playing in Europe, that could be on the move.