Argentina’s triumph at the 2022 World Cup – and the celebrations that followed it – were certainly memorable. Lionel Messi finally lifted the one trophy that had evaded him. An estimated four million people took to the streets of Buenos Aires to celebrate La Albiceleste becoming world champions for the first time since the days of Diego Maradona. The party might still be going.
By Graham Ruthven
It also served a reminder of Argentina’s ability to produce elite level talent. Messi might have been the difference-maker in Qatar, but Lionel Scaloni’s squad for the 2022 World Cup was packed with quality. Argentina’s talent pool is deep and Premier League clubs are now plunging their hands into the water to find the country’s next superstar.
The 2024 January transfer window saw Brighton sign Argentina youth international Valentín Barco from Boca Juniors with River Plate youngster Claudio Echeverri also securing a move to Manchester City. This comes just two years after City spent a reported £14m to sign Julián Álvarez from the same Argentine club.
Álvarez has since become an important figure at the Etihad Stadium, winning the Treble in his first season as a Manchester City player. He led the line for Argentina at the 2022 World Cup and has deputised ably for Kevin de Bruyne and Erling Haaland at club level this season. The £14m City paid for Álvarez makes his signing of the Premier League’s best bargains of recent times.
Not every player that comes out of Argentina can be an instant success like Álvarez, but Premier League clubs are looking more closely at domestic football within the country. In the past, most Argentine youngsters would need a stepping stone before reaching the top level in Europe. Increasingly, the stepping stone is being removed.
Brexit changed the landscape for English clubs looking to sign young talent from around the world. The new points system – which permits clubs to sign two players per year who do not meet visa requirements – has made it easer for Premier League teams to land players from continents beyond Europe. South America, in particular, is being looked at more closely.
In the past, players like Álvarez, Barco and Echeverri might have joined a club in the Netherlands or Portugal before making the move to one of Europe’s ‘Big Five’ leagues. This is the route Ángel Di María took, playing for Benfica before joining Real Madrid. It was a similar story for Lisandro Martínez who signed for Ajax before ending up at Manchester United.
By cutting out the middle man, though, Premier League clubs can save themselves a lot of money. They can integrate talented players at a younger age and build around them in a more meaningful way. With smart scouting, there are bargains to be had and in the age of Financial Fair Play (FPP) and Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), this is extremely attractive.
It’s not just young Argentines who are making the move to Premier League clubs at a younger age. Brighton in particular have made South America a central part of their recruitment strategy with Facundo Buonanotte, Moises Caicedo and Julio Enciso all pitching up at the Amex Stadium direct from clubs in Argentina, Ecuador, and Paraguay.
Chelsea will also sign Ecuadorian wonderkid Kendry Páez this summer. The Stamford Bridge club appear intent on following the precedent established by Brighton and are expected to sign more South American youngsters in the summer transfer window – the Blues are reportedly interested in signing 16-year-old Estêvão Willian – known as Messinho – from Palmeiras.
Brazilian wonderkids have always been attractive, but the stock of young Argentines is particularly high after what happened at the 2022 World Cup. The country does an excellent job of preparing youngsters for the technical and physical demands of top-level European football, meaning many of its players can hit the ground running in leagues like the English top flight.
Barco will be integrated gradually by Roberto De Zerbi at Brighton while Echeverri won’t join Manchester City until the summer. Both players, however, are expected to make an impact on the Premier League at some point in the not-so-distant future and others will folllow the new trade route between Argentinean and English football.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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