Six Primera stars that could top European shopping lists in January
As the temperature and humidity soars over the Christmas period in Argentina, the country’s football takes a much needed break, but while the Primera Division is usually crowning a champion of one of its short championships, this year it is just the halfway mark of a year-long tournament.
Ignoring the preposterous 30 teams in the top flight for a moment, falling in line with the European football calendar and not having two championships a year was one of the AFA’s few good ideas. However, it does mean that plenty of Primera sides now nervously wait to see if potential title challenges could be derailed by rich European clubs spying the South American market for a bargain.
With the January transfer window ready to open and the Primera not resuming until February, there could be one or two potential bargains available.
Only in the most recent pre-season was there talk of Sebastian Driussi being allowed to leave River Plate on loan after never quite doing enough to demonstrate that he was ready for a regular starting role. However, the 20-year-old has emphatically answered his critics after Marcelo Gallardo showed faith in his obvious talents and partnered the academy product with Lucas Alario in attack.
Despite dazzling in the youth categories for River and Argentina, Driussi was often too wasteful centrally when given fleeting chances in the first team and a little lost when played out wide on the left. Back through the middle this season, Driussi leads the Primera scoring charts with 10 goals from 13 matches and is understandably attracting interest.
Excellent movement, a rapid burst of speed and clinical finishing have made Driussi one of the most feared forwards in the Primera and while River will be desperate to hold onto the La Joya for their Copa Libertadores campaign, the likes of Tottenham and Atletico Madrid are already sniffing around.
The fact that Paris Saint-Germain are strongly rumoured to be willing to pay the $18m release clause in Cristian Pavon’s Boca Juniors contract is evidence of the 20-year-old’s rapid progression over the past few months.
A prodigious teenage talent with his boyhood club Talleres, Boca moved swiftly to sign Pavon in 2014 and since switching to La Bombonera and enjoying a loan spell with Colon, the Cordoba native has shown flashes of his exceptional skill. Pavon’s promotion to Guillermo Barros Schelotto’s first team this season hasn’t disappointed and is a key factor behind Boca spending Christmas at the top of the league.
Pavon’s electrifying pace and venomous long range shooting has given Boca’s offence a real edge and the Argentina Olympic squad member has contributed six goals and three assists to what is the most prolific attack in the top flight.
Racing Club have had a frustrating first half of the season, which ultimately cost Ricardo Zielinski his job, but while performances have been inconsistent, the same can’t be said of Marcos Acuna, who not only ranks as WhoScored’s highest rated player (7.75) but also forced his way into the last Argentina squad.
The 24-year-old has had to bide his time to make a real impact on Argentine football, but after early rejections and moving to Buenos Aires alone to progress through Ferro Carril Oeste’s ranks, El Huevo eventually made his mark in Avelleneda and helped Racing to a first league title in 13 years.
With five goals and four assists, Acuna has been one of the most productive players in the league and his ability to beat his marker, score goals and pick a pass has proved deadly for Racing. Hardworking, a lovely left foot and now a full international, Acuna maybe a little older than many of the European targets, but is perhaps better prepared than most.
Veteran midfielder Israel Damonte described Santiago Ascacibar as ‘the best ball winning midfielder in Argentina’ and while the opinion of an Estudiantes teammate may have a hint of bias, the vital role of the 19-year-old has not only made Damonte’s job easier, but saw El Pincha go 21 league matches unbeaten.
A tactical awareness that belies his years, Ascacibar possesses the natural leadership skills and tough-tackling that has led to understandable Javier Mascherano comparisons. Despite his diminutive stature, his ball winning statistics really catch the eye, but his passing is efficient and has certainly provided Nelson Vivas’ title challenging side with a foundation for any attacks to build on.
Ascacibar will be with the Argentina under-20s in January for the South American Championship and Estudiantes have a 2017 Copa Libertadores campaign to prepare for, but that will not prevent plenty of clubs running the rule over El Ruso.
After three consecutive defeats in major finals, one criticism often leveled at Argentina number nine Gonzalo Higuain is that he cracks under pressure. One thing you would say about Lucas Alario in his relatively short career is that he thrives under the spotlight and River Plate’s trophy cabinet has benefitted.
With 31 goals in 57 appearances since signing from Colon, Alario has not just been a regular name on the score sheet, but the man to rely on for the big occasions. Vital goals in the Copa Libertadores semi-final and final weeks after joining, another to help lift the Recopa Sudamericana, and most recently a hat-trick in the Copa Argentina final, suggests Alario is ready for the next step.
Argentina manager Edgardo Bauza obviously thinks so and referred to Alario as ‘the future’ after handing the 24-year-old his international debut in September. A clinical penalty box striker, El Flaco comfortably links play and is deceptively good in the air, and so it is easy to see why Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan and Spurs are all interested.
There has been little reason to cheer for Independiente supporters this season, but the emergence of teenager Ezequiel Barco has excited the locals at the Estadio Libertadores de America. The pint-sized 17-year-old has never looked overawed and despite his age, has at times been the player that El Rojo look to when the chips are down.
Always looking forward, Barco provides an urgency and verticality that is often missing in Independiente’s play and although he still only has one goal to his name, there has been a growing dependency on the youngster at times.
Rejected by Boca Juniors as a youngster after coming to Buenos Aires, Independiente may have come across a real gem, but it is important to temper expectation at this stage. Barco will be in Ecuador next month with the Argentina under-20s and although there is no transfer speculation yet, his performances at such an early point of his career will have sparked interest.
