By Peter Coates

“I play ball, I don’t feel pressure” – words easier said than demonstrated under the lights. Yet when you see Alan Velasco play, there is a clear sense of freedom that backs up the teenager’s statement. Heralded as the next big thing at one of Argentina’s most famous clubs, by any other measure there is a considerable weight.

Independiente were able to begin construction on a new stadium from the sale of Sergio Agüero in 2006 and many would label Velasco with the same ‘generational talent’ tag.

The Estadio Libertadores de América has finally been completed but financial issues that saw the project take over a decade still run deep, and just like Agüero years earlier, the eventual sale of Velasco could be viewed as a lifeline. Independiente will be hoping that’s the case, but perhaps also that they can enjoy Velasco for a little while longer.

Agüero as a teenager was a phenomenon and most comparisons are both unhelpful and wide of the mark, but the same youthful exuberance and fearless approach is evident. A mentality even when the team is down to receive the ball, make things happen and lift teammates. From the potrero to the top flight without filter.

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