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Spanish Inquisition: Youngsters Ready To Break Out In La Liga
Goal.com’s Cyrus C. Malek profiles some of La Liga’s most talented young players that could climb out of obscurity to make very big waves this season...
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Aug 5, 2009 9:40:53 AM
It was but a few years ago that La Liga fans watched a wide-eyed and yet-unpolished Lionel Messi, Sergio Ramos, or David Silva take to the pitch and show that they may have something special to offer the footballing world.
Over the years, those brief flashes of brilliance have matured into awesome displays of skill and athletic prowess as these players and others like them have become some of the most talented in Spanish football, not to mention the world.
So as we turn our eager eyes to a new and exciting season in La Liga, we focus our attention on some of the young players that could constitute the next wave of world-class talent.
If these names are foreign to you, make sure to keep an eye out for them. These players could very well soon be household names.
Pablo Piatti (20 yrs)
The star of the show for UD Almeria last season was imposing striker Alvaro Negredo. But a buyback clause in Negredo’s contract has seen 'El Tiburon de Vallecas' ('The Shark of Vallecas' — a suburb of Madrid) swim back up to the Bernabeu this summer, leaving an empty spotlight in Hugo Sanchez’s Almeria squad. Enter Pablo Piatti, a 20-year-old Argentine winger who has been dubbed by many as the next Messi.
A product of Argentinean club Estudiantes de La Plata's youth ranks, Piatti was part of the Argentina Under-20 squad that won the 2007 U-20 World Cup in Canada, having competed as the youngest player on the roster. At only 5 ft 3 1⁄2 inches tall (1.61m) look for little Piatti to take on much more responsibility at Almeria this season with his darting runs along the flanks and Messi-like cutbacks.
Pablo Hernandez (24 yrs)
Some fans of La Liga may already know Pablo Hernandez’s name, but for the most part, the Valencia youth product remains largely anonymous. A fleet-footed midfielder/winger and a fantastic dribbler of the ball, Hernandez is fast becoming a dominant player in Unai Emery’s Valencia squad, and his performances over the years have not gone unnoticed: former national team boss Luis Aragones called Hernandez into the 32-man provisional squad for Euro 2008, although he did not make the final cut. This summer, however, current Seleccion coach Vicente Del Bosque called up Hernandez to replace Andres Iniesta in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa. Hernandez debuted for the national side in the final group stage match against the host nation.
This season at the club level, he could enjoy much more playing time — especially if another team manages to prise away David Villa, David Silva, or Juan Mata.
Michel (21 yrs)
Another Valencia youth product, Miguel Alfonso Herrero Javaloyas or Michel is somewhat lesser known than Pablo Hernandez, but is the up-and-coming force in Valencia’s midfield. Initially called up by Unai Emery because of a string of injuries in Valencia’s midfield, Michel has earned regular call ups to the first team since and looks as if he will soon be the successor to David Albelda. Next season, look to see him mature.
Esteban Granero (22 yrs)
After two season away at Getafe — the first on loan and the second as a Getafe player but with a menial buyback fee - 'El Pirata' has been brought back to Real Madrid to take part in Florentino Perez’s second Galactico era. While canteranos have typically had very difficult times breaking into the first team at Madrid, Granero has become something of a success story — he has been one of Madrid’s best players so far in the pre-season and looks like he is very intent upon fighting for a starting role in the side rather than just making the squad. If his performances at Getafe and in Madrid’s pre-season are any indication, he could hit the big time.
Dani Parejo (20 yrs)
Mirroring Granero, Dani Parejo goes from Real Madrid to Getafe in order to polish his skills. The long-locked midfielder has enormous potential and some have even likened his style of play to that of Cesc Fabregas. One thing is for certain, new Getafe coach Michel, formerly of Real Madrid’s Castilla youth team, is a long-time admirer of Parejo and should give the Madrid canterano plenty of playing time and confidence. Look for him to be a leader in the Getafe squad as he begins to find his feet.
Diego Perotti (21 yrs)
Like Diego Capel before him, Diego Perotti is yet another a talented player out of the Sevilla youth system. Of Argentinean origin, Perotti gained promotion to Sevilla’s first team last season and frequently competed with Capel, already an established talent in the Sevilla side and the Spanish game in general, for the starting position on Sevilla’s left flank.
This season, Perotti should have a breakout year as Sevilla look to contend for the Liga title as well as the Champions League.
Iker Muniain (16 yrs)
Javi Martinez and Fernando Llorente may have made headlines for Athletic Bilbao last season, but this campaign, young striker Iker Muniain could well burst onto the scene. Only 16-years-old, Muniain possesses extraordinary talent, having been called up the Spain U-16 and U-17 squads (scoring one goal in two appearances for the former and two goals in 12 appearances for the latter).
Young Muniain has already made his first team debut this summer in a Europa League qualifying match against Young Boys Bern, entering the match as a 59th minute substitute, although Bilbao ended up losing the match 1-0. Not to fret though, this season he should have many more opportunities to show his quality.
Pedro Rodríguez (22 yrs)
Pedro Rodriguez Ledesma or Pedrito is yet another very promising player to come out of Barcelona’s youth system. Where Bojan Krkic and Sergi Busquets broke out before him, Pedro should have the opportunity to shine this season as Pep Guardiola looks to give Messi an occasional rest on the right wing.
In the pre-season Pedrito has already started off in brilliant form; in his three appearances he has already scored two goals and made one assist. With numbers like this, Pedrito could be the next jewel out of the Catalunyan club’s youth ranks.
Jeffren Suarez (21 years)
Of course, this list will not be limited to just one Barcelona youth product. Venezuelan-born Jeffren Suarez has a strong pedigree, having played with the Spanish U-17 squad, U-19 squad, U-20 squad, and now recently called up to Spain’s U-21 team.
A strong player for the Barcelona B team, Pep Guardiola rewarded the youngster with a first-team debut last May against Mallorca, and this pre-season, the coach has continued to allow the youngster to show his value.
So far in the pre-season Jeffren has played all seven matches and has scored two goals — the first against Al-Ahly and the second against the LA Galaxy. The Barca squad will be packed up front, but should Jeffren break through and earn a first team spot, he could challenge an aging Thierry Henry on the left flank.
German Pacheco (18 yrs)
Not since Fernando Torres have Atletico de Madrid had the chance to get behind such a talented homegrown hero as German Pacheco, an Argentinean-born player raised through the Atletico youth system.
With 12 goals in 14 matches in Atletico’s youth team, Pacheco is a player full of promise, dangerous in one-on-one situations and with a dribbling style very similar to Messi. In Madrid they are already calling him Atletico’s answer to Barcelona’s Bojan Krkic.
Oscar Sielva Moreno (18 yrs)
Thankfully, Espanyol did not descend into the mire of the Segunda Division, or this talented youth product may have flown under the radar for at least one more year. With Ivan de la Pena having just turned 33 years old, Oscar Moreno has broken into the first team just in time to take the reigns of the Espanyol midfield.
A regular for the Spanish U-17 side, Moreno played a pivotal role in the side’s triumph during the 2008 European U-17 Championship and the youngster will hope this international success translates into good form as he breaks into regular play at the club level. He certainly has shown he has the talent to succeed.
Cyrus C. Malek, Goal.com
Over the years, those brief flashes of brilliance have matured into awesome displays of skill and athletic prowess as these players and others like them have become some of the most talented in Spanish football, not to mention the world.
So as we turn our eager eyes to a new and exciting season in La Liga, we focus our attention on some of the young players that could constitute the next wave of world-class talent.
If these names are foreign to you, make sure to keep an eye out for them. These players could very well soon be household names.
Pablo Piatti (20 yrs)
The star of the show for UD Almeria last season was imposing striker Alvaro Negredo. But a buyback clause in Negredo’s contract has seen 'El Tiburon de Vallecas' ('The Shark of Vallecas' — a suburb of Madrid) swim back up to the Bernabeu this summer, leaving an empty spotlight in Hugo Sanchez’s Almeria squad. Enter Pablo Piatti, a 20-year-old Argentine winger who has been dubbed by many as the next Messi.
A product of Argentinean club Estudiantes de La Plata's youth ranks, Piatti was part of the Argentina Under-20 squad that won the 2007 U-20 World Cup in Canada, having competed as the youngest player on the roster. At only 5 ft 3 1⁄2 inches tall (1.61m) look for little Piatti to take on much more responsibility at Almeria this season with his darting runs along the flanks and Messi-like cutbacks.
Pablo Hernandez (24 yrs)
Some fans of La Liga may already know Pablo Hernandez’s name, but for the most part, the Valencia youth product remains largely anonymous. A fleet-footed midfielder/winger and a fantastic dribbler of the ball, Hernandez is fast becoming a dominant player in Unai Emery’s Valencia squad, and his performances over the years have not gone unnoticed: former national team boss Luis Aragones called Hernandez into the 32-man provisional squad for Euro 2008, although he did not make the final cut. This summer, however, current Seleccion coach Vicente Del Bosque called up Hernandez to replace Andres Iniesta in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa. Hernandez debuted for the national side in the final group stage match against the host nation.
This season at the club level, he could enjoy much more playing time — especially if another team manages to prise away David Villa, David Silva, or Juan Mata.
Michel (21 yrs)
Another Valencia youth product, Miguel Alfonso Herrero Javaloyas or Michel is somewhat lesser known than Pablo Hernandez, but is the up-and-coming force in Valencia’s midfield. Initially called up by Unai Emery because of a string of injuries in Valencia’s midfield, Michel has earned regular call ups to the first team since and looks as if he will soon be the successor to David Albelda. Next season, look to see him mature.
Esteban Granero (22 yrs)
After two season away at Getafe — the first on loan and the second as a Getafe player but with a menial buyback fee - 'El Pirata' has been brought back to Real Madrid to take part in Florentino Perez’s second Galactico era. While canteranos have typically had very difficult times breaking into the first team at Madrid, Granero has become something of a success story — he has been one of Madrid’s best players so far in the pre-season and looks like he is very intent upon fighting for a starting role in the side rather than just making the squad. If his performances at Getafe and in Madrid’s pre-season are any indication, he could hit the big time.
Dani Parejo (20 yrs)
Mirroring Granero, Dani Parejo goes from Real Madrid to Getafe in order to polish his skills. The long-locked midfielder has enormous potential and some have even likened his style of play to that of Cesc Fabregas. One thing is for certain, new Getafe coach Michel, formerly of Real Madrid’s Castilla youth team, is a long-time admirer of Parejo and should give the Madrid canterano plenty of playing time and confidence. Look for him to be a leader in the Getafe squad as he begins to find his feet.
Diego Perotti (21 yrs)
Like Diego Capel before him, Diego Perotti is yet another a talented player out of the Sevilla youth system. Of Argentinean origin, Perotti gained promotion to Sevilla’s first team last season and frequently competed with Capel, already an established talent in the Sevilla side and the Spanish game in general, for the starting position on Sevilla’s left flank.
This season, Perotti should have a breakout year as Sevilla look to contend for the Liga title as well as the Champions League.
Iker Muniain (16 yrs)
Javi Martinez and Fernando Llorente may have made headlines for Athletic Bilbao last season, but this campaign, young striker Iker Muniain could well burst onto the scene. Only 16-years-old, Muniain possesses extraordinary talent, having been called up the Spain U-16 and U-17 squads (scoring one goal in two appearances for the former and two goals in 12 appearances for the latter).
Young Muniain has already made his first team debut this summer in a Europa League qualifying match against Young Boys Bern, entering the match as a 59th minute substitute, although Bilbao ended up losing the match 1-0. Not to fret though, this season he should have many more opportunities to show his quality.
Pedro Rodríguez (22 yrs)
Pedro Rodriguez Ledesma or Pedrito is yet another very promising player to come out of Barcelona’s youth system. Where Bojan Krkic and Sergi Busquets broke out before him, Pedro should have the opportunity to shine this season as Pep Guardiola looks to give Messi an occasional rest on the right wing.
In the pre-season Pedrito has already started off in brilliant form; in his three appearances he has already scored two goals and made one assist. With numbers like this, Pedrito could be the next jewel out of the Catalunyan club’s youth ranks.
Jeffren Suarez (21 years)
Of course, this list will not be limited to just one Barcelona youth product. Venezuelan-born Jeffren Suarez has a strong pedigree, having played with the Spanish U-17 squad, U-19 squad, U-20 squad, and now recently called up to Spain’s U-21 team.
A strong player for the Barcelona B team, Pep Guardiola rewarded the youngster with a first-team debut last May against Mallorca, and this pre-season, the coach has continued to allow the youngster to show his value.
So far in the pre-season Jeffren has played all seven matches and has scored two goals — the first against Al-Ahly and the second against the LA Galaxy. The Barca squad will be packed up front, but should Jeffren break through and earn a first team spot, he could challenge an aging Thierry Henry on the left flank.
German Pacheco (18 yrs)
Not since Fernando Torres have Atletico de Madrid had the chance to get behind such a talented homegrown hero as German Pacheco, an Argentinean-born player raised through the Atletico youth system.
With 12 goals in 14 matches in Atletico’s youth team, Pacheco is a player full of promise, dangerous in one-on-one situations and with a dribbling style very similar to Messi. In Madrid they are already calling him Atletico’s answer to Barcelona’s Bojan Krkic.
Oscar Sielva Moreno (18 yrs)
Thankfully, Espanyol did not descend into the mire of the Segunda Division, or this talented youth product may have flown under the radar for at least one more year. With Ivan de la Pena having just turned 33 years old, Oscar Moreno has broken into the first team just in time to take the reigns of the Espanyol midfield.
A regular for the Spanish U-17 side, Moreno played a pivotal role in the side’s triumph during the 2008 European U-17 Championship and the youngster will hope this international success translates into good form as he breaks into regular play at the club level. He certainly has shown he has the talent to succeed.
Cyrus C. Malek, Goal.com
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| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
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| Sign up with Paddy Power for a free bet up to £50 |
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