The shining light in Argentina’s youth sides, Tomás Conechny has been hotly tipped as one for La Albiceleste’s future for years but with chances in San Lorenzo’s first team limited, the 20-year-old is now heading to Portland Timbers on loan.

The MLS club announced on Tuesday that Conechny would be joining on loan for the remainder of the season with an option to buy pending a medical, receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC) and P-1 visa.

While Conechny may not yet have fulfilled anywhere near his enormous potential, Timbers have acquired a forward who at only 20 could still prove to be a tremendous asset.

“He is a player we have been following closely, and we believe he has a bright future ahead of him as a player who can play any of the attacking positions,” Timbers general manager Gavin Wilkinson told the club website.

“We believe [Conechny] has the tools to become a dangerous attacker in this league moving forward.”

Coach Savarese is excited about this young talent, and it’s easy to see why. #RCTID pic.twitter.com/9i7fs81ii0

— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) July 17, 2018

Certainly Conechny’s versatility to play on either flank, as a striker or as a number ten in behind has proved an asset for Argentina’s youth sides but has perhaps hindered the youngster’s ability to truly make a position his own at senior level.

A captaining role for Argentina at youth level and a series of dazzling displays for the Under-15s and Under-17s hasn’t been mirrored at club level, where Conechny has managed only 14 league appearances, mostly as a substitute, since making his San Lorenzo debut in 2016.

“Conechny is a player who possesses very good attacking elements for his age, and we believe he has the tools to become a dangerous attacker in this league moving forward,” Timbers head coach Giovanni Savarese said.

The 20-year-old’s stocky build, decent burst of pace, trickery to wriggle out of tight spots and powerful left boot, provide Conechny with all the tools to succeed and in Timbers’ Designated Players’ Diego Valeri and Sebastián Blanco the San Lorenzo forward has the ideal mentors to assist him.

Whether or not Conechny can finally prove this remains to be seen but if the player who shone so brightly for Argentina as a boy can make the step up, the Timbers and Argentina may yet be the beneficiaries.