One of the privileges of watching football in Argentina is the opportunity to see the stars of the future beginning their careers. For every James Rodríguez, Ángel Di María or Sergio Agüero there are countless others who fall by the wayside despite their early promise. In order to cover my bases, I will rundown a few (actually quite a lot) of the faces looking to make an impact during 2015 and perhaps catch the eyes of European scouts.
Matías Kranevitter (River Plate)
Age: 21 (21/05/1993)
Position: Defensive midfield
The talents of River Plate’s most recent number five are no secret anymore but after injury ended his Torneo Transición early, 2015 is the moment for Kranevitter to really stamp his authority on Marcelo Gallardo’s side and the Primera.
Introduced sparingly by Ramón Díaz, it was Gallardo who really oversaw his progression and up until the metatarsal injury that ruled him out for the majority of last season, Kranevitter looked like the player to spearhead River’s bicampeones challenge.
A classy Argentine five, who can break up play but also begin attacks with a good array of passing. The 21-year-old has made a slow start to 2015, as have River in general, but rumoured interest from Spain is unlikely to go away. Gerardo Martino is already thought to have watched the midfielder and a move to Europe beckons before too long.
Jonathan Calleri (Boca Juniors)
Age: 21 (23/09/1993)
Position: Centre Forward
Persistant links to the likes of Arsenal (the English one) and other European clubs suggest that Jonathan Calleri is already on the brink of breaking through after less than a year in La Bombonera. A strong 2015 and the 21-year-old will be certain to make the big move away from Argentina.
Dubbed the ‘new Gonzalo Higuaín’ by some corners of the press, this is a slightly premature and not entirely accurate comparison but Calleri does possess the attributes to be a top striker.
Strong enough to play as a central number nine, Calleri also has the pace and technique to run into wide areas. Competition for places at Boca this season is fierce but the former All Boys striker is still being given plenty of playing time by Rodolfo Arruabarrena and scored a delightful lob earlier in the season against Temperley.
Franco Cervi (Rosario Central)
Age:20 (26/05/1994)
Position: Attacking midfield
We are only a few rounds into the Torneo 2015 but perhaps the player to have caught the eye most at this early stage is Rosario Central’s 20-year-old attacker, Franco Cervi. The Torneo Transición provided a glimpse of the talents of the diminutive playmaker, who is comfortable playing across the attack or centrally behind the striker, but he announced himself in the season opener with a superb match winning lob against champions Racing.
Under new Central boss, Eduardo Coudet, Cervi has established himself as a key figure in an excellent start to the season. In addition to his goal against Racing, Cervi has caused Primera defences all manner of problems with his trickery and eye for a pass, and certainly centre forward Marco Ruben has benefitted.
Standing only five feet seven inches, Cervi is perhaps the typical Argentine footballer. His low centre of gravity, pace and skill allow him to skip past defenders and his awareness and vision make him a dangerous creative figure.
If being twenty years old and abundantly talented doesn’t make him an attractive enough proposition then the news that he also possesses an Italian passports will surely draw several European suitors. Inter Milan and Tottenham have already been credited with an interest ahead of potential summer moves.
Gonzalo ‘Pity’ Martínez (River Plate)
Age: 21 (13/06/1993)
Position: Attacking midfield
River didn’t do much business in the summer transfer window but the one player they did pursue and ultimately pay a sizeable fee for was Huracán’s 21-year-old playmaker, Gonzalo ‘Pity’ Martínez. While it may still be early days the indications suggest this was a very shrewd move.
Whilst helping Huracán to promotion back to the Primera and to Copa Argentina glory in 2104, Martínez was displaying the skills that have already made him a favourite among the River faithful. A decent burst of pace, excellent ball control, the ability to beat defenders, a keen eye for a pass and a powerful yet cultured left foot make him a dangerous enganche of enormous potential.
While River already possess one very good playmaker, in the older, Leonardo Pisculichi, Martínez brings an added dynamism to their attack.
If and when River sell-on Martínez it will be for a decent profit. River and Boca used to run on such a financial model – snap up the local talent for cheap and then sell to Europe for a quick profit. The wider scouting networks have seen this decrease but do not surprised if this happens within the next two years.
Gaspar Iñíguez (Argentinos Juniors)
Age: 20 (26/03/1994)
Position: Central midfield
Bizarrely Gaspar Iñíguez was brought to the attention of most Argentine football fans when he lost his front teeth while attempting to tackle Fernando Gago with his head but that comical episode should not distract from the fact that the 20-year-old is one of the jewels of Argentinos’ renowned youth ranks.
The tough tackling defensive midfielder has come all the way through the youth sides to take his place as Néstor Gorosito’s number five general in the Primera. In addition to representing Argentina through the youth divisions, Iñíguez has already been the subject of interest from overseas.
Barcelona reportedly tried to sign Iñíguez as a teenager when he was still playing in the under 16s but Argentinos thought that it would be premature to sell so early and so he has steadily progressed. A summer move to Hellas Verona collapsed over disagreements over the method of payments and so Argentinos have made it very clear how highly they rate the youngster.
Starting every match so far, in what has been a pretty successful start to life back in the Primera for Argentinos’ very young side should only see his stock rise.
Ramiro Carrera (Arsenal de Sarandí)
Age: 21 (24/10/1993)
Position: Attacking midfield/striker
A product of Boca Juniors’ youth system, Ramiro Carrera’s early career looked set to fizzle out after a series of moves within the youth ranks of lower league sides but after joining Arsenal in 2012, the lively attacker has seen his career take off.
Making his debut for Arsenal under Gustavo Alfaro in 2013, Carrera remained somewhat of a perifiral figure but following the sales of Brahian Aleman and Milton Caraglio, 2015 has seen Carrera become a key figure in the Arsenal attack.
Three goals already this season, including a superb brace against River Plate, is evidence of his rise. The tricky 21-year-old has a venemous shot on him and the fact that the side have only scored five in total illustrates just how dependant they are on him. The recent signing of Santiago Silva should relieve some of this burden and hopefully playing alongside a physical number nine will benefit Carrera.
Lucas Zelarayán (Belgrano)
Age: 22 (20/06/1992)
Position: Attacking midfield
Belgrano have surprised a fair few people this season as they find themselves in fifth despite seeing key attackers, Julio Furch and César Pereyra leave the club. One player that Ricardo Zielinski’s side were determined to keep hold of was 22-year-old Lucas Zelarayán who attracted his own share of attention over the summer.
A fast, skillful player who can play on either flank or behind the strikers showed signs of his talents during the Transición but has really flourished in 2015. The diminuitive Córdoba born attacker has proved to be a constant threat to Primera defences and although this has only yielded a single goal his contribution to Belgrano’s success is huge.
Belgrano have been wise not to sell him to any of the ‘Big Five’ in Argentina who had been sniffing around over the summer and instead may now be able to make a greater profit selling him overseas.
Emiliano Rigoni (Belgrano)
Age: 22 (04/02/1993)
Position: Winger
22-year-old winger Emiliano Rigoni has been with Belgrano since the age of twelve, steadily progressing through their youth ranks until making his debut at nineteen during the Torneo Inicial 2013. Now a central part of Belgrano’s attack, Rigoni provides natural width on either flank.
Equally comfortable on both wings and strong with both feet, Rigoni can drive to the by-line to cross or cut inside to shoot making him ideal for a 4-4-2 or 4-3-3.
His slender frame is perhaps not the most robust but rapid acceleration and a penchant for stepovers, Rigoni is a classic wide player.
Adrián Cubas (Boca Juniors)
Age: 18 (11/05/1996)
Position: Defensive midfield
Colombian midfielder and Boca icon, Chico Serna visited La Bombonera earlier this season and there was one player that caught the eye of the two-time Libertadores winner – Adrián Cubas. Serna knows a thing or two about defensive midfielders and said: “I was really excited, he is a guy that has no ceiling. He is heading to be part of the history of Boca.”
The 18-year-old is one of the top prospects to have emerged from Boca’s academy in recent years and has captained the youth sides since joining at the age of twelve.
A combative midfielder despite standing only five feet four inches, Cubas is also an excellent passer of the ball and is excellent in transition from defence to attack.
With competition for starting places so intense at Boca, Cubas’ appearances have been sparce but he has not looked out of place whatsoever. Humberto Grondona has named him as part of his Argentina preliminary squad for the World Cup in New Zealand later this year and so Cubas might just start turning heads in Europe. Boca will be keen to hold on to Cubitas in the hope he might be the new Serna in a fresh era of success.
Marcelo Meli (Boca Juniors)
Age: 22 (20/06/1992)
Position: Central midfield
When Fernando Gago was struggling for form during 2014 one thing that was clear was that the Argentina international was not able to do what he does best; sit deep and initiate attacks with passes to those more mobile midfielders. In 2015 Gago has showed signs of somewhere near his best and the very mobile, Marcelo Meli should take a considerable amount of credit for that.
The 22-year-old brings a much needed energy to the Boca midfield, certainly in the post-Bianchi era where Los Xeneizes had become distinctly stagnant. With boundless energy Meli is combative enough to fulfill important defensive duties but break with speed to join attacks and chip in with important goals. After impressing with Colón in their relegation season of 2014, there was a huge amount of interest in Meli but it was Bianchi’s Boca who snapped him up for a reported fee of $750,000. Initially Bianchi did not seem to clear on how best to utilise a number of his new youthful signings but since Rodolfo Arruabarrena took over they have flourished.
Interest is beginning to build in Meli and there were suggestions that Valencia might have first option on the midfielder as part of the deal Boca made for Gago. Given his incredible stamina, Meli will play an important role in Boca’s league and Libertadores campaigns and if both or either are successful it will be no surprise to see Boca make a tidy profit.
Sebastián Palacios (Boca Juniors)
Age: 23 (20/01/1992)
Position: Wide forward
2015 has already proved to be Sebastián Palacios’ Boca breakthrough year as he emerged from the summer tournaments as one of Rodolfo Arruabarrena’s genuine first teamers. After coming up through the youth sides and making his Boca debut in 2013, Palacios found himself out on-loan at Unión and then at Arsenal over the last couple of seasons. Turning twenty-three during the summer it felt as though if El Tucu (he originally hails from Tucumán) was going to make it in La Bombonera it was going to be this season.
Arruabarrena gave him the chance and Palacios shone in the five-nil demolition of River Plate in their annual summer friendly. He kept his place in the side that has needed heavy rotation given their Libertadores commitments and has continued to score goals.
In Boca’s 4-3-3 Palacios’ pace and willingness to run inside the full-back have made him an incredibly useful asset as Boca hit sides on the break. Palacios might not be heading to Europe anytime soon but this season will decide if he is a true Boca player.
Luciano Acosta (Estudiantes)
Age: 20 (31/03/1994)
Position: Attacking midfield
Making your way at Boca Juniors as an attacking midfielder in the era of Juan Román Riquelme was never likely to be easy and so understandably Luciano Acosta found first team action difficult to come by as a teenager.
Along with Roma’s Leandro Paredes, Acosta was one of the brightest graduates of Boca’s academy in recent seasons and did eventually begin to break into Bianchi’s first team during the 2014 Torneo Final.
However, the number ten role for Boca is a heavy shirt to wear and Acosta was never able to make it his own. As Boca have grown and spent considerably on their current attacking unit, Acosta was viewed as suplus to requirements.
Estudiantes moved quickly to complete a loan deal with an option to buy the 20-year-old. His debut was in the clásico platense summer friendly and the skillful midfielder scored in the 3-3 draw but has since made do with a fringe place in Mauricio Pellegrino’s starting line-up.
In flashes, the tiny Acosta has shown what he is capable of as he beats defenders with ease and is a genuine creative force behind the striker. With Estudiantes’ games coming thick and fast Acosta should get more and more playing time and could yet realise his undoubted potential.
Guido Carrillo (Estudiantes)
Age: 23 (25/05/1991)
Position: Centre forward
There are few better centre forwards in the Primera than Estudiantes’ Guido Carrillo and so the question is really when rather than if he makes the move to Europe. With an outside chance of the title and a run in the Copa Libertadores there are plenty of opportunities to impress and so 2015 looks set to be his last in Argentina.
The powerful 23-year-old is the modern number nine: Strong in the air and can hold up the ball but has a yard of pace and good technique to bring others into play and run in behind the defence.
Developing from the lanky teenager who made his debut in the 2011 Clausura, Carrillo is now a leader at Estudiantes and his physical presence at the head of their attack really dictates how El Pincha play.
Injury has limited him to just four appearances this season but still brought two goals and in the Libertadores, he already has five. Reported interest from Bundesliga sides will probably see Carrillo leave La Plata in the European summer window. A hefty price will be paid but Estudiantes will find it very difficult to replace him.
Gastón Gil Romero (Estudiantes)
Age: 21 (06/05/1993)
Position: Central midfield
Still only 21 Gastón Gil Romero is already a veteran of 75 appearances for Estudiantes and after playing alongside the legendary Juan Sebastián Verón now wears the captain’s armband.
Since making his debut in the 2011 Clausura, Gil Romero has established himself as the key man in the Estudiantes midfield. A classic Argentine number five who busily dashes around in front of the defence breaking up play with timely interceptions and tackles but who is comfortable in possession.
A decent repertoire of passing and a natural leader, Gil Romero is perhaps not far away from earning a move away. A consistent level of performance both domestically and in the Copa Libertadores could see this come to fruition.
Cristian Espinoza (Huracán)
Age: 19 (03/04/1995)
Position: Striker/Wide forward
Fresh off the back off lifting the under-20 South American championship with Argentina, 2015 was set to be the year that Cristian Espinoza made his mark on the Primera but injury has so far curtailed that. Certainly given the amount of matches that Huracán have had to play the 20-year-old has been a miss.
As a forward who likes to cling to the right touchline, Espinoza utitilises his pace to beat the full-back and deliver crosses or run inside to add a goal threat. In Uruguay for the Argentina under-20s, Espinoza did this superbly but supporters of El Globo have been witnessing this since he made his debut in 2013 whilst playing in the Nacional B.
Espinoza will once more be included in Humbertito Grondona’s under-20 plans when they head off to New Zealand for the World Cup and once back fit for Huracán he will hopefully continue that form. Certainly a big striker like Ramón Abilá will benefit from having such a player tearing down the right.
Nicolás Tagliafico (Independiente)
Age: 22 (31/08/1992)
Position: Left back
Nicolás Tagliafico has for a long time been touted as a future Argentina full-back having represented La Albiceleste at all youth levels and attracting interest from Europe during his time with Banfield. For one reason or another this hype has slowed somewhat and so the summer move to Independiente, one of Argentina’s ‘Big Five’ is his chance to enhance his reputation.
A superb engine makes him ideal to play as a wing-back and his powerful left foot makes him a goal threat when getting forward. However, even at this early stage of the season with Independiente, Tagliafico has proven to far more adept on the front foot than he is on the back. Granted it is a new defensive unit, and not a particularly good one, but Tagliafico will certainly need to improve this part of his game if he is to fulfill his potential.
As a regular starter for Independiente, the now 22-year-old Tagliafico has the opportunity to prove himself but it remains to be seen whether he will do this in 2015.
Matías Pisano (Independiente)
Age: 23 (13/12/1991)
Position: Attacking midfield
The oldest player on the list, 2015 remains a very big year for Independiente’s Matías Pisano. Having almost quit football after falling out of favour as a teenager at Chacarita Juniors, Pisano eventually moved to Independiente.
During El Rojo’s tumultuous season in the Nacional B, Pisano emerged as one of the key players and led the division statistics for assists. Upon gaining promotion back to the Primera, Pisano has remained important to El Rojo but during the Transición his inconsistency and the competition for places with Daniel Montenegro meant that Pisano only showed glimpses of what he could do.
With Montenegro’s departure, much of Independiente’s creative reponsibility falls on Pisano and so 2015 could perhaps be a sink or swim season for the midfielder.
Just five feet four inches tall, Pisano often drifts out of games, as he is physically bullied off the ball but he has already shown that he is more than capable of causing damage in the Primera. Three assists and a goal from the opening eight rounds prove this and now all Pisanito needs to add is consistency.
Ezequiel Ponce (Newell’s Old Boys)
Age: 17 (29/03/1997)
Position: Centre forward
You might well argue with some justification that having already secured a move to Roma, Ezequiel Ponce has already enjoyed his breakthrough season. However, after signing a deal over the summer with the Serie A side, 17-year-old Ponce has returned to Rosario for 2016 with much still to prove.
The powerfully built youngster missed almost the entire Torneo Transición through injury and while it didn’t discourage Roma it does mean that Ponce has not played a great deal of first team football.
Alfredo Berti have El Tanque his debut when he was just sixteen during the 2013 Torneo Final and he immediately caught the attention of anyone who watched Argentine football with goalscoring performances.
Berti was more than familiar with Ponce’s talents from the Newell’s youth sides where he plundered 35 goals in the under-16s 2012 season, a record across all the AFA leagues.
Limited to only a couple of substitute appearances so far in 2015, Ponce has been named by Humbertito Grondona for the under-20 World Cup squad so we may yet see what prompted Roma to splash the cash.
Mauricio Tévez (Newell’s Old Boys)
Age: 18 (31/06/1996)
Position: Attacking/wide midfield
No relation to the other famous Tevez, young Mauricio is another precocious talent off the Rosario conveyor belt. A product of Newell’s academy, the 18-year-old attacker shot into the limelight with a goal scoring debut against Boca Juniors in La Bombonera during the Torneo Transición.
With bags of pace and a powerful right foot, Tevez is a dangerous right-sided attacker who has already been linked with moves to Europe with Sampdoria one of those clubs attributed with an interest.
The Rosario native has the same agent that managed Angel Di María for many years when the Manchester United midfielder left Rosario for Benfica and the hope will be Tevez follows in the same direction.
Brian Fernández (Racing Club)
Age: 21 (26/09/1994)
Position: Striker
It is no easy task when the champions of Argentina want to sign you with the requirement that you can fill in for a player like Diego Milito and ensure that in his absence both domestically and in the Libertadores the side retain a goal threat.
Racing paid $1 million for 50% ownership of 21-year-old Brian Fernández after manager Diego Cocca had seen first hand what a talent he was whilst working together at Defensa y Justicia.
An important part in their promotion to the Primera, Fernández proved himself to be an explosive striker possessing real striking ability. Racing have seen glimpses of this so far and it was his trusty right foot that was given the responsibility of finishing the superbly worked set-piece that undid Sporting Cristal in the Libertadores.
Given Milito’s age and the increasing likelihood that Gustavo Bou will be heading off in the not to distant future, Fernández could sooner rather than later be the player to spearhead Racing’s attack. 2015 will be his opportunity to prove that he is up to the task.
Óscar Romero (Racing Club)
Age: 22 (04/07/1992)
Position: Attacking midfield
Twin brother of Corinthians’ Angel Romero, Óscar has been a well-known figure to those in Paraguay and followers of South American football in general for sometime but it was perhaps his match winning performances that dumped Lanús out of the Copa Sudamericana that really caught the attention of Argentines.
Full of tricks and a goal threat, Romero often featured on the left of the attack for Cerro Porteño but recently stated that he sees himself as more of an enganche.
Romero is in fact a dropout from Boca Juniors academy and joined Cerro at the age of fourteen after that initial disappointment but since then the 22-year-old has shown that Boca may have made a mistake about him.
After making his debut for Cerro at the age of eighteen, Romero quickly established himself as one of the brightest young players in the league and rumours of transfers away surfaced.
After last year’s performances in the Copa Sudamericana and debuting for the Paraguayan national side in 2013 that transfer talked intensified. However, after selling Ricardo Centurión it was Argentine champions Racing who won the race. They needed to pay $2.7 million for his signature but the hope in Avellaneda is that he will provide a creative spark this year and if he leaves the Cilindro it will be for significantly more money.
Yonathan Cabral (Racing Club)
Age: 22 (10/05/1992)
Position: Defender
The younger brother of Celta Vigo’s Gustavo Cabral, Yonathan has quickly established as a key part of Racing’s defence and was an almost ever-present in the centre, alongside Luciano Lollo, as Racing lifted their first league title since 2001.
Cabral was not the first choice at the start of the season but formed an excellent partnership with Lollo and emerged as one of the revelations of the Transición. The cornerstone to Racing’s triumph was this defensive unit as they kept eight clean sheets from the last nine matches.
With Lollo out injured at the start of 2015 and the added strain of the Libertadores it hasn’t been such plain-sailing for Racing in the league but Cocca still looks to Cabral to bring solidity to the back four.
Emanuel Mammana (River Plate)
Age: 19 (10/02/1996)
Position: Centre back
Emanuel Mammana has already attracted a substantial amount of interest after his exploits with both River’s and Argentina’s youth sides. Making a first senior Argentina appearance before even playing for the River first team made Mammana a member of a very exclusive group, existing of only one other – Javier Mascherano. Like El Jefecito, Mammana had captained River’s youth sides but was yet to play for the first team before he represented La Albiceleste and as a result speculation on his future grew.
Since then Mammana has made his full River debut and given the amount of games that they will have in 2015 combined with Marcelo Gallardo’s belief in his young players, the 19-year-old should see plenty more action.
Fresh from helping Argentina under-20s lift the South American championships, Mammana will head with the squad to New Zealand for the World Cup in May gaining even more valuable experience.
There is no doubting that Mammana is one of the brightest defensive prospects in the country – quick, strong and very good on the ball, he has all of the qualities to go to the very top. However, he is by no means the finished product and is still prone to errors. The fact that he followed in the footsteps of Mascherano undoubtedly created hype and there is still rumours of interest from Tottenham and Atlético Madrid but for his own development breaking into the River first team would appear more beneficial.
Facundo Quignon (San Lorenzo)
Age: 21 (02/05/1992)
Position: Central midfield
Daniel Passarella’s presidency at River between 2009 and 2013 can be criticized for a number of reasons but allowing Facundo Quignon to leave the Monumental may yet prove to be another of them. It is difficult to argue at this point that River have missed Quignon but the 21-year-old was highly regarded and is now getting plenty of playing time with rivals, San Lorenzo where he may yet fulfill his potential.
Along with another name on this list, Matías Kranevitter, Quignon formed a delightful ‘double five’ in River’s under-20 midfield and in 2012 they lifted the under-20 Copa Libertadores.
Like Kranevitter, Quignon is an elegant central midfielder who cana break up play but also pull strings from his deep lying position. 2015 might be the year that River are left to rue their decision to let the 21-year-old leave.
Héctor Villalba (San Lorenzo)
Age: 20 (26/05/1994)
Position: Striker
Having graduated to San Lorenzo’s first team in 2013 and being part of the Copa Libertadores winning side the following year, 2015 is perhaps the year that Héctor Villalba should really force himself upon the Argentine domestic scene and follow former team mate, Ángel Correa to Europe.
Not as creative as Correa, Villalba is a speed merchant who is capable of the truly spectacular. One such example of this is how Tito announced himself on the Primera in 2013 with his first senior goal, bursting from his own half through the Racing defence to score one of the goals of the season.
Villalba has not kicked on as much from then but with Correa now gone and San Lorenzo still competing in multiple tournaments it is the time for him to do so. There has certainly been interest in the 20-year-old and if Villalba can begin converting his obvious ability into consistent performances and goals then a move at some point will be inevitable.
Kevin Itabel (Tigre)
Age: 21 (20/08/1993)
Position: Striker
Since Gustavo Alfaro took over at Tigre they have looked a rejuvenated side, if albeit a little inconsistent. However, that inconsistency is perhaps a by-product of introducing several excellent youngsters into the side and without question one of those is 21-year-old Kevin Itabel.
Itagol, as he is known in Victoria, was a product of River’s youth system but after failing to make the grade in the Monumental moved north to join Tigre. Since making his debut in 2013, Itabel has gone on to make thirty-two appearances but often as an impact sub, scoring five goals and often wide on the left rather than as one of the strikers.
His pace, trickery and underrated workrate make him versatile enough to play in both positions but it is now time for Itabel to start making more of a mark on the Primera.
Lucas Romero (Vélez Sarsfield)
Age: 20 (18/04/1994)
Position: Central midfield
Referring to Lucas Romero as merely a holding midfielder would be doing him an injustice as there is far more to his game than just the cleaning up in front of the defence. The 20-year-old is indeed a combative ball winner and breaks up play effectively but he also has an excellent array of passing which is often overlooked by the more simple demands that his position asks for.
Romero burst onto the scene in the 2012 Torneo Inicial as injuries to first team players provided an opportunity to showcase his talents. Going on to play 13 times that season, Vélez won the championship and interest in Romero started to grow. He has gone on to represent El Fortín more than seventy times since then and in now what is the weakest Vélez side he has been a part of, Romero is expected to be more of a leader.
This number five position in Argentina is not only a crucial position but also a reverred position and although there are several good players coming through Romero is someone that has impressed scouts for the longest. Still only twenty but now with an increased reponsibility in the side it could be the time that Romero makes the move to Europe.
Leonardo Rolón (Vélez Sarsfield)
Age: 20 (19/01/1995)
Position: Right midfield
It cannot be easy when your twin brother is plucked away at a young age and moved to Spain to join Barcelona’s famous academy but that is exactly what happened to Leonardo Rolón when brother Maxi joined La Masia aged fifteen. Leonardo was left to pave his own way within Vélez’s well-respected academy and is now catching the eye of followers of Argentine football himself.
Both Rolón brothers were part of the Argentina under-20 side that recently lifted the South American championship but it was Leonardo who played a much bigger part in the triumph. The Vélez, right sided midfielder was a starter for Humbertito Grondona and scored an absolute belter from distance in the win over Paraguay. His ill-discipline did mean that he missed the final match after a stupid red card but he was still one of the standout performers in the title winning side.
Vélez’s young side now presents Rolón with plenty of opportunities to impress in the Primera. The 20-year-old has featured in virtually every match in 2015 and it will be interesting to see if he can stake a claim to join his brother in Europe.
Yeimar Gómez Andrade (Rosario Central)
Age: 22 (23/10/1992)
Position: Central defence
One year ago it was another powerful Colombian defender that was stealing the headlines with River Plate’s Éder Álvarez Balanta ultimately winning a place in the World Cup squad but given Rosario Central’s impressive start to 2015 the name of Yeimar Gómez Andrade is now attracting interest.
Like Balanta, Andrade is a strong, 22-year-old central defender who came to Argentina as a youngster and has emerged from the youth ranks to impress in the Primera. However, Andrade is more of a traditional centre-half and certainly not the ball-playing, pirouette performing type that Balanta is.
Strong in the air and in the tackle, Andrade is a physical defender unafraid of putting his head in where it hurts.
Alejandro Romero Gamarra (Huracán)
Age: 20 (11/01/1995)
Position: Attacking midfield
Alejandro Gamarra was not part of the Argentina under-20 side that recently won the South American championship like Huracán teammate, Cristian Espinoza but has been called up to the preliminary squad for the World Cup and his absence in Uruguay should not lessen his reputation.
The skillful midfielder played an important role in El Globo’s promotion back to the Primera and should see plenty of action in 2015 as Huracán juggle league and cup commitments.
A creative playmaker with the pace and trickery to enable him to play wide, Gamarra will be looking to force his way into the Huracán side during 2015. If he is selected to travel to New Zealand with the Argentina under-20s he may make himself known to an even wider audience.
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