Arsenal have reportedly struck a deal with Vélez Sarsfield for 16-year-old, Maxi Romero, one of the prized youngsters from El Fortín’s highly regarded academy. The striker is said to have signed a deal with the Premier League side but will remain with Vélez for the next two years to continue his development. Argentine sports newspaper, Olé claim that the price is as much as €6 million which is a lot to pay for a player yet to play first team football and obviously a staggering amount in Argentine football.

Romero signed for Vélez at the age of six and last year was the leading scorer in the Octava División (under-15s) with 33 goals. At fifteen the powerful youngster made his reserve team debut and when Miguel Ángel Russo was appointed Vélez manager over the summer, Romero found himself in the first team squad for preseason, scoring in the victory over All Boys.

Yet to make his first team debut, Romero was on the bench for the match earlier this season against Crucero del Norte but as yet has failed to register any minutes. There is little doubting the talent that Romero has and how highly he is though of by Vélez but there is no refusing that amount of money.

Here in lies the problem with Argentine football. With such a weak economy and clubs losing money they must look to cash in on any hint of potential. The wealthy European clubs benefit while the domestic league suffers and homegrown talent is plucked from the league before even getting the opportunity to perform.