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Ricky Alvarez, Teo Gutierrez & the five revelations of the Argentine Clausura season
Goal.com highlights the talents who came into the Clausura under the radar, and left with all the plaudits, predicting whether they will stay put for another Argentine term
Jun 24, 2011 9:00:00 AM
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FEATURE
By Daniel Edwards
The Clausura season may still be going, as all of Argentina tunes in to River Plate's desperate attempts to avoid relegation to the B Nacional, but for the vast majority of Primera Division teams it is time to rest and take stock after a bruising 19-game season. As well as evaluating the clubs that impressed and depressed in the past six months, it is time to look at the players who have announced themselves as stars so far in 2011.
As befits a country which has an almost unequalled reputation in producing quality talent, the past campaign unearthed several talents that had previously slipped under the radar, but nevertheless sparkled during the Clausura. Most will be youngsters preparing themselves for a glorious career in Argentine, and hopefully world football, while some exceptional players have rediscovered their very best form and will not be taken lightly by anyone next season.
Goal.com highlights the players who took Argentina by storm in the past championship, and predicts whether they can go on to have the same impact in what remains of the year, or indeed if a move to pastures new is on the cards in the upcoming transfer window.
Ricardo 'Ricky' Alvarez entered 2011 as a talent hoping to establish himself in an extremely competitive Velez midfield. He left it as one of the hottest prospects in the division, with several top clubs from Europe keen to take him away from Liniers for the coming year.
It is no more than the 23-year-old deserves, as after suffering a myriad of injury problems so far in his career he proved himself to be a versatile, attack-minded player with a penchant for spectacular goals. Ricky was superb both in the Primera Division and the Copa Libertadores, scoring four times in 15 starts in the first season he has been considered a starter for the Fortin.
Roma, Arsenal and many other clubs have been linked with the star, and it seems like his days in Argentina are numbered, as a multi-million bid looks set to tempt him away. After a fantastic six months, few Velez fans will begrudge him the chance to make a real name for himself in European football.
The only foreigner on our list, and also the only player to have been purchased by his current club, Teo nevertheless fully deserves a mention for the astounding impact he had in his first season in Argentina. Eleven goals in 15 starts represented a fantastic return for the Colombian striker, and what's more, no one saw it coming.
'El Pescador' arrived without fanfare in Avellaneda, after a glut of goals for home-town club Junior led to a frustrating spell in Turkey with Trabzonspor. In just a handful of games, however, the talented forward had begun to show his worth, combining agility and skill with an unerring eye for goal, and also an infectious joy for football which could not help but make him an instant favourite with Racing fans.
His form even earned him a place in Colombia's Copa America squad, where he dreams of partnering Radamel Falcao and leading the Cafeteros to glory in the country which has taken him to heart. La Academia will have to work hard to keep him in Argentina over the winter, but with the promise of being reunited with international team mate Gio Moreno in the Apertura, Argentina could be enjoying Gutierrez for a little while longer yet.
Out of all the youngsters who represented Argentina in the South American Under-20 Championships, none have subsequently shined brighter than Banfield's prodigious striker Facundo Ferreyra. Although not exactly a household name, the striker has nevertheless managed to escape the damaging glare that kids from Argentina's top clubs have to endure, but chances are this will not last long.
'Chuky' had only played six Primera games before the start of the year, but four goals in Peru set him up for a breakout season. He grabbed the No. 9 shirt in the Taladro with both hands and hit six goals in just 11 outings, demonstrating his talents as a rangy forward, strong in the air but with excellent abilities with the ball on the deck.
So far talk of the 20-year-old leaving Banfield has been at a minimum, but a similarly impressive display in the U20 World Cup could make him hard to ignore for goal-hungry European clubs.
Although they just fell short at the end, the neutral's choice to lift the Clausura championship was undoubtedly Lanus. The unfashionable club from south Buenos Aires have an enviable reputation for developing young talents and making them stars, and 21-year-old midfield maestro Pizarro could well be the next.
Having played two seasons as a starter with little attention, in 2011 Guido found the perfect mentor to bring him up to the next level; former Juventus and Italy star Mauro Camoranesi. Along with the exceptional Diego Valeri, the trio formed the best midfield in Argentina, and Pizarro chipped in with a fantastic personal effort to help his side finish second behind Velez Sarsfield.
Still remarkably timid off the pitch, he is a player who can go box-to-box for 90 minutes, and will only improve in an exhilarating Grana unit.
Already identified as a talented if slightly lightweight No. 10, 2011 proved to be the year that this Rojo starlet grew up; the tag 'Patito' was shed, and Pato Rodriguez, the next star Argentine playmaker, was born.
The 20-year-old came into his own into the second half of the season, saving Independiente from a punishing battle against the promocion that the far more celebrated Erik Lamela could not. All four of his goals came in last four games of the season, ensuring that the side picked up nine of their last 12 points to finish well clear of the pack. This included an outstanding individual goal against direct relegation rivals Olimpo, where he skipped through the side to seal a crucial victory.
Movement, pace, an excellent touch and a keen eye for goal are all abilities this little maestro possesses in spades. With clubs from Italy and Spain circling greedily, however, Independiente must wonder for how long they can hold on to their most precious gem.
By Daniel Edwards
The Clausura season may still be going, as all of Argentina tunes in to River Plate's desperate attempts to avoid relegation to the B Nacional, but for the vast majority of Primera Division teams it is time to rest and take stock after a bruising 19-game season. As well as evaluating the clubs that impressed and depressed in the past six months, it is time to look at the players who have announced themselves as stars so far in 2011.
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As befits a country which has an almost unequalled reputation in producing quality talent, the past campaign unearthed several talents that had previously slipped under the radar, but nevertheless sparkled during the Clausura. Most will be youngsters preparing themselves for a glorious career in Argentine, and hopefully world football, while some exceptional players have rediscovered their very best form and will not be taken lightly by anyone next season.
Goal.com highlights the players who took Argentina by storm in the past championship, and predicts whether they can go on to have the same impact in what remains of the year, or indeed if a move to pastures new is on the cards in the upcoming transfer window.
| RICKY ALVAREZ | Velez Sarsfield |
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Ricardo 'Ricky' Alvarez entered 2011 as a talent hoping to establish himself in an extremely competitive Velez midfield. He left it as one of the hottest prospects in the division, with several top clubs from Europe keen to take him away from Liniers for the coming year.
It is no more than the 23-year-old deserves, as after suffering a myriad of injury problems so far in his career he proved himself to be a versatile, attack-minded player with a penchant for spectacular goals. Ricky was superb both in the Primera Division and the Copa Libertadores, scoring four times in 15 starts in the first season he has been considered a starter for the Fortin.
Roma, Arsenal and many other clubs have been linked with the star, and it seems like his days in Argentina are numbered, as a multi-million bid looks set to tempt him away. After a fantastic six months, few Velez fans will begrudge him the chance to make a real name for himself in European football.
| TEO GUTIERREZ | Racing Club |
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|
||||||||||||||
The only foreigner on our list, and also the only player to have been purchased by his current club, Teo nevertheless fully deserves a mention for the astounding impact he had in his first season in Argentina. Eleven goals in 15 starts represented a fantastic return for the Colombian striker, and what's more, no one saw it coming.
'El Pescador' arrived without fanfare in Avellaneda, after a glut of goals for home-town club Junior led to a frustrating spell in Turkey with Trabzonspor. In just a handful of games, however, the talented forward had begun to show his worth, combining agility and skill with an unerring eye for goal, and also an infectious joy for football which could not help but make him an instant favourite with Racing fans.
His form even earned him a place in Colombia's Copa America squad, where he dreams of partnering Radamel Falcao and leading the Cafeteros to glory in the country which has taken him to heart. La Academia will have to work hard to keep him in Argentina over the winter, but with the promise of being reunited with international team mate Gio Moreno in the Apertura, Argentina could be enjoying Gutierrez for a little while longer yet.
| FACUNDO FERREYRA | Banfield |
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Out of all the youngsters who represented Argentina in the South American Under-20 Championships, none have subsequently shined brighter than Banfield's prodigious striker Facundo Ferreyra. Although not exactly a household name, the striker has nevertheless managed to escape the damaging glare that kids from Argentina's top clubs have to endure, but chances are this will not last long.
'Chuky' had only played six Primera games before the start of the year, but four goals in Peru set him up for a breakout season. He grabbed the No. 9 shirt in the Taladro with both hands and hit six goals in just 11 outings, demonstrating his talents as a rangy forward, strong in the air but with excellent abilities with the ball on the deck.
So far talk of the 20-year-old leaving Banfield has been at a minimum, but a similarly impressive display in the U20 World Cup could make him hard to ignore for goal-hungry European clubs.
| GUIDO PIZARRO | Lanus |
 |
|
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Although they just fell short at the end, the neutral's choice to lift the Clausura championship was undoubtedly Lanus. The unfashionable club from south Buenos Aires have an enviable reputation for developing young talents and making them stars, and 21-year-old midfield maestro Pizarro could well be the next.
Having played two seasons as a starter with little attention, in 2011 Guido found the perfect mentor to bring him up to the next level; former Juventus and Italy star Mauro Camoranesi. Along with the exceptional Diego Valeri, the trio formed the best midfield in Argentina, and Pizarro chipped in with a fantastic personal effort to help his side finish second behind Velez Sarsfield.
Still remarkably timid off the pitch, he is a player who can go box-to-box for 90 minutes, and will only improve in an exhilarating Grana unit.
| PATRICIO RODRIGUEZ | Independiente |
 |
|
||||||||||||||
Already identified as a talented if slightly lightweight No. 10, 2011 proved to be the year that this Rojo starlet grew up; the tag 'Patito' was shed, and Pato Rodriguez, the next star Argentine playmaker, was born.
The 20-year-old came into his own into the second half of the season, saving Independiente from a punishing battle against the promocion that the far more celebrated Erik Lamela could not. All four of his goals came in last four games of the season, ensuring that the side picked up nine of their last 12 points to finish well clear of the pack. This included an outstanding individual goal against direct relegation rivals Olimpo, where he skipped through the side to seal a crucial victory.
Movement, pace, an excellent touch and a keen eye for goal are all abilities this little maestro possesses in spades. With clubs from Italy and Spain circling greedily, however, Independiente must wonder for how long they can hold on to their most precious gem.
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ANALYSIS
By Ben Hayward
They say the league table doesn't lie. For those teams that are unhappy with their final position in La Liga, therefore, the summer transfer window is the ideal time to redress the balance, to address the team's needs, to sign the missing link. It's a time for fantasy football, for dream XIs and misty-eyed visions of what might be next season, but those in charge must keep in touch with reality, too. Whether it's shopping at bargain basement or in elite boutiques, the key is to improve and evolve - and to go after bigger objectives than before.
June, though, is already more than half over and while Real Madrid and Malaga have already brought in several new players, many teams, including champions Barcelona, have yet to recruit a single star for the next campaign.
That, however, could all change this week. With speculation spiralling and rumours rising, Goal.com looks at the five signings that could advance towards completion within the next seven days.
This link is a fairly recent one but has gathered pace at a considerable rate and the Chile forward looks set to seal a move to Camp Nou within the next couple of days.
Barcelona aren't the only ones interested in the Udinese forward, who has also attracted interest from Manchester United, Manchester City, Inter and Juventus.
The Catalan club looks set to win his signature, however, after he reportedly told his Chile team-mates he is set for a Blaugrana switch this week. A bizarre cryptic message on Twitter from his agent, referring to a pig with an apple in its mouth, was also an apparent allusion to a move to Barcelona for the 22 year-old. So let's hope he has better luck with pig heads than Luis Figo.
If you have just emerged from a time capsule or awoken from a long coma, you may not have heard about this one. But Goal.com can confirm that Barcelona really do want to sign Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas. And you know, it looks like it will finally happen this week. Hello? Are you still there?
Yes, it appears that one of the world's longest ever transfer sagas is about to reach a conclusion. Barcelona president Sandro Rosell claimed earlier this week that his side would not pay over the odds for the Catalan midfielder and the gallery groaned. But Arsenal then revealed negotiations were underway. Cesc wants to leave and he's in Spain at the moment, so expect big developments to take place this week. It's finally happening, folks.
Real Madrid have already been proactive in the transfer market this summer, signing Nuri Sahin, Hamit Altintop and Jose Callejon. Do they need any of them? That's a good question and another good question is this one: do they need Fabio Coentrao?
Cynics point to the fact that the Benfica full-back shares the same agent as Madrid coach Jose Mourinho, as well as Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria. And then there's his position to take into account - he's a left-back. And Madrid already have a fine, and much-improved left-back in Marcelo.
But when did Madrid's transfer policy ever respect logic anyway? Mourinho's interest in the defender is real and a right-back role for the Portuguese could be in the Special One's mind. Whatever his thoughts are, Madrid look set to seal the signing this week, as reports in Portugal say a deal has been agreed for the 23-year-old, who is set to undergo a medical in the Spanish capital in the coming days.
Ronaldo, meanwhile, has welcomed the arrival of his countryman. "He is the best Portuguese player still playing in Portugal," he said. Don't worry Cristiano, there isn't anyone as good as you out there - not from Portugal anyway.
Remember when Joaquin was linked with Chelsea and Real Madrid? Now he's linked with Malaga. Nothing against Malaga, of course - the seasiders have come into some serious Qatari cash and having made a splash on Ruud van Nistelrooy, Jeremy Toulalan and Joris Mathijsen already this summer, the Costa del Sol outfit has now turned its attentions to the Valencia winger.
An initial bid of €4.5 is set to be turned down by Unai Emery's side, but the debt-ridden club aren't opposed to selling the winger and have an agreement with the player that he can leave for the right money. A higher offer from Manuel Pellegrini's side is likely to see Joaquin return to his native Andalusia, therefore, just in time to face the club where he made his name, Betis, who are back in the top flight. Isn't that a nice story?
Espanyol don't pay big money for players and that's likely to be the hold-up here. The Catalan club have reportedly offered €3 million for the AZ Alkmaar defender, but the Dutch side are said to holding out for €5 million. Somewhere in between probably reflects the real value of the Mexico defender, who has been a success since moving across the pond in 2008, and a deal is set to be struck this week.
Espanyol coach Mauricio Pochettino knows a thing or two about defending and Moreno will have a great teacher in his new boss. For Espanyol, there are plenty of pluses as well; Moreno is young (23), he's a good defender, he's already an experienced international and best of all, he wasn't one of the five Mexicans to test positively for clenbuterol recently.
By Ben Hayward
They say the league table doesn't lie. For those teams that are unhappy with their final position in La Liga, therefore, the summer transfer window is the ideal time to redress the balance, to address the team's needs, to sign the missing link. It's a time for fantasy football, for dream XIs and misty-eyed visions of what might be next season, but those in charge must keep in touch with reality, too. Whether it's shopping at bargain basement or in elite boutiques, the key is to improve and evolve - and to go after bigger objectives than before.
June, though, is already more than half over and while Real Madrid and Malaga have already brought in several new players, many teams, including champions Barcelona, have yet to recruit a single star for the next campaign.
That, however, could all change this week. With speculation spiralling and rumours rising, Goal.com looks at the five signings that could advance towards completion within the next seven days.
| ALEXIS SANCHEZ | Udinese to Barcelona |
 |
|
||||||||||||
This link is a fairly recent one but has gathered pace at a considerable rate and the Chile forward looks set to seal a move to Camp Nou within the next couple of days.
Barcelona aren't the only ones interested in the Udinese forward, who has also attracted interest from Manchester United, Manchester City, Inter and Juventus.
The Catalan club looks set to win his signature, however, after he reportedly told his Chile team-mates he is set for a Blaugrana switch this week. A bizarre cryptic message on Twitter from his agent, referring to a pig with an apple in its mouth, was also an apparent allusion to a move to Barcelona for the 22 year-old. So let's hope he has better luck with pig heads than Luis Figo.
| CESC FABREGAS | Arsenal to Barcelona |
 |
|
||||||||||||
If you have just emerged from a time capsule or awoken from a long coma, you may not have heard about this one. But Goal.com can confirm that Barcelona really do want to sign Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas. And you know, it looks like it will finally happen this week. Hello? Are you still there?
Yes, it appears that one of the world's longest ever transfer sagas is about to reach a conclusion. Barcelona president Sandro Rosell claimed earlier this week that his side would not pay over the odds for the Catalan midfielder and the gallery groaned. But Arsenal then revealed negotiations were underway. Cesc wants to leave and he's in Spain at the moment, so expect big developments to take place this week. It's finally happening, folks.
| FABIO COENTRAO | Benfica to Real Madrid |
 |
|
||||||||||||
Real Madrid have already been proactive in the transfer market this summer, signing Nuri Sahin, Hamit Altintop and Jose Callejon. Do they need any of them? That's a good question and another good question is this one: do they need Fabio Coentrao?
Cynics point to the fact that the Benfica full-back shares the same agent as Madrid coach Jose Mourinho, as well as Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria. And then there's his position to take into account - he's a left-back. And Madrid already have a fine, and much-improved left-back in Marcelo.
But when did Madrid's transfer policy ever respect logic anyway? Mourinho's interest in the defender is real and a right-back role for the Portuguese could be in the Special One's mind. Whatever his thoughts are, Madrid look set to seal the signing this week, as reports in Portugal say a deal has been agreed for the 23-year-old, who is set to undergo a medical in the Spanish capital in the coming days.
Ronaldo, meanwhile, has welcomed the arrival of his countryman. "He is the best Portuguese player still playing in Portugal," he said. Don't worry Cristiano, there isn't anyone as good as you out there - not from Portugal anyway.
| JOAQUIN | Valencia to Malaga |
 |
|
||||||||||||
Remember when Joaquin was linked with Chelsea and Real Madrid? Now he's linked with Malaga. Nothing against Malaga, of course - the seasiders have come into some serious Qatari cash and having made a splash on Ruud van Nistelrooy, Jeremy Toulalan and Joris Mathijsen already this summer, the Costa del Sol outfit has now turned its attentions to the Valencia winger.
An initial bid of €4.5 is set to be turned down by Unai Emery's side, but the debt-ridden club aren't opposed to selling the winger and have an agreement with the player that he can leave for the right money. A higher offer from Manuel Pellegrini's side is likely to see Joaquin return to his native Andalusia, therefore, just in time to face the club where he made his name, Betis, who are back in the top flight. Isn't that a nice story?
| HECTOR MORENO | AZ Alkmaar to Espanyol |
 |
|
||||||||||||
Espanyol don't pay big money for players and that's likely to be the hold-up here. The Catalan club have reportedly offered €3 million for the AZ Alkmaar defender, but the Dutch side are said to holding out for €5 million. Somewhere in between probably reflects the real value of the Mexico defender, who has been a success since moving across the pond in 2008, and a deal is set to be struck this week.
Espanyol coach Mauricio Pochettino knows a thing or two about defending and Moreno will have a great teacher in his new boss. For Espanyol, there are plenty of pluses as well; Moreno is young (23), he's a good defender, he's already an experienced international and best of all, he wasn't one of the five Mexicans to test positively for clenbuterol recently.
| Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20! |
|
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