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Goal.com 50: Javier Pastore (35)
Our definitive countdown of the best players of 2010-11 continues with the Argentina international, who is set for a big-money move out of Sicily
1 Aug 2011 11:12:00
By Adam Scime
Welcome to the Goal.com 50! In this special series, Goal.com editors worldwide vote for the top 50 players of 2010-11. We count down to the announcement of the winner on August 14 with profiles of each and every player who made it into the top 50...
Javier Pastore has emerged as the poster boy for the wave of young South American stars in the modern game. After enjoying his best year yet in his second campaign for Palermo, he is now on the verge of a €43 million (£37.6m) transfer to Paris Saint-Germain.
Based on his first half of the 2010-11 campaign, it is little wonder why the ambitious French club covet him, and why the 22-year-old is placed at No.35 in our Goal.com 50.
Already considered a great talent after making two substitute appearances at the 2010 World Cup under Diego Maradona, the former Huracan star built on that with a string of superb performances, announcing Pastore's arrival as one of the most sought-after players on the continent.
Pastore's combination with fellow playmaker Josip Ilicic provided some of the most beautiful football in Serie A in the past year as Palermo initially maintained a high position in the table and were considered one of the most exciting teams on the peninsula to watch.
The Argentine became the star of the swashbuckling Sicilians, being included in Goal.com's Serie A Team of the Season at the winter break, with his style of play drawing many fans to call him 'the Argentine Kaka' as he contributed goals, pinpoint through passes, stunning dribbles and tricks.
The youngster set the Italian top flight alight, including fine goals and dazzling man of the match performances in away wins over Juventus and Fiorentina, as well as a stunning volley in a 4-1 demolition of Bologna.
His crowning moment, though, came when he bagged his only Serie A hat-trick, in a match Palermo fans will not soon forget as he led a 3-1 victory over Sicilian rivals Catania in a heated contest on home soil. Goal.com awarded Pastore a player rating of 9.0 for his display, where he scored a complete hat-trick: one header, one goal with his right foot and one with his left.
After the turn of the year, however, the form of both Palermo and Pastore himself dipped, as explained by Goal.com's Kris Voakes, and the team had to settle for an eighth-placed finish after suffering some unexpected losses - including a 7-0 defeat by Udinese and 4-0 thumping as Catania completed a revenge mission.
Nonetheless, a satisfying season from a personal perspective was achieved, with 11 goals and five assists in Serie A, impressive numbers for a player most definitely developing his abilities.
Despite their lull in league form, Pastore and Co. excelled in the Coppa Italia, making it all the way to the final before losing 3-1 to Inter. Indeed, Pastore put on quite a show in the semi-finals against AC Milan, including a well-taken strike in the first-leg as he assisted in toppling the eventual Serie A champions out of the domestic cup competition. His and Palermo's effort meant they earned a place in next season's Europa League after finishing runners up.
The 2010-11 season ended on a sour note for Pastore, however, as host nation Argentina were dumped out of the Copa America at the quarter-final stage, with the midfielder playing a limited role, making just two appearances from the bench. Many fans asked whether the talented South American should have been given more opportunities, and some still wonder what might have been had Pastore featured more prominently.
Seemingly bound for PSG, Pastore is a player with the world at his feet, possessing flair in abundance and an uncanny ability to move into dangerous positions on the pitch. If he can keep up physically and continue to develop, he will arguably be a staple in the Goal.com 50, as well as a household name in world football, for years to come.
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Javier Pastore has emerged as the poster boy for the wave of young South American stars in the modern game. After enjoying his best year yet in his second campaign for Palermo, he is now on the verge of a €43 million (£37.6m) transfer to Paris Saint-Germain.
Based on his first half of the 2010-11 campaign, it is little wonder why the ambitious French club covet him, and why the 22-year-old is placed at No.35 in our Goal.com 50.
Already considered a great talent after making two substitute appearances at the 2010 World Cup under Diego Maradona, the former Huracan star built on that with a string of superb performances, announcing Pastore's arrival as one of the most sought-after players on the continent.
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"I would like to keep him another year. With €40m, you won't even buy his right boot." - Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini
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Pastore's combination with fellow playmaker Josip Ilicic provided some of the most beautiful football in Serie A in the past year as Palermo initially maintained a high position in the table and were considered one of the most exciting teams on the peninsula to watch.
The Argentine became the star of the swashbuckling Sicilians, being included in Goal.com's Serie A Team of the Season at the winter break, with his style of play drawing many fans to call him 'the Argentine Kaka' as he contributed goals, pinpoint through passes, stunning dribbles and tricks.
| MOMENT OF THE SEASON |
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| SICILIAN DERBY: PALERMO 3-1 CATANIA |
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| Pastore dismissed his club's Sicilian rivals by scoring a well-taken hat-trick at the Stadio Renzo Barbera in November 2010, on the way to a superb victory. |
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His crowning moment, though, came when he bagged his only Serie A hat-trick, in a match Palermo fans will not soon forget as he led a 3-1 victory over Sicilian rivals Catania in a heated contest on home soil. Goal.com awarded Pastore a player rating of 9.0 for his display, where he scored a complete hat-trick: one header, one goal with his right foot and one with his left.
After the turn of the year, however, the form of both Palermo and Pastore himself dipped, as explained by Goal.com's Kris Voakes, and the team had to settle for an eighth-placed finish after suffering some unexpected losses - including a 7-0 defeat by Udinese and 4-0 thumping as Catania completed a revenge mission.
Nonetheless, a satisfying season from a personal perspective was achieved, with 11 goals and five assists in Serie A, impressive numbers for a player most definitely developing his abilities.
Despite their lull in league form, Pastore and Co. excelled in the Coppa Italia, making it all the way to the final before losing 3-1 to Inter. Indeed, Pastore put on quite a show in the semi-finals against AC Milan, including a well-taken strike in the first-leg as he assisted in toppling the eventual Serie A champions out of the domestic cup competition. His and Palermo's effort meant they earned a place in next season's Europa League after finishing runners up.
| "Pastore became the star of the swashbuckling Sicilian side, with his style of play drawing fans to call him 'the Argentine Kaka', as he contributed goals, pinpoint through passes, stunning dribbles and tricks." |
Seemingly bound for PSG, Pastore is a player with the world at his feet, possessing flair in abundance and an uncanny ability to move into dangerous positions on the pitch. If he can keep up physically and continue to develop, he will arguably be a staple in the Goal.com 50, as well as a household name in world football, for years to come.
Goal.com Poll
Poll runs from 1 Aug 2011 to 2 Aug 2011
Poll runs from 1 Aug 2011 to 2 Aug 2011
Do you agree with Javier Pastore's ranking?
Too high
49.81%
Just right
30.97%
Too low
19.22%
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