Talent identification and development will always be an integral part of football. For clubs “lucky” enough to have access to a state’s cash reserves or the profits of a wealthy oil baron, harvesting talented players is a relatively easy task, you just sign the best players in the best leagues and hope for positive outcomes. Of course, such an approach to squad building is not always a success (Philippe Coutinho, Romelu Lukaku, Nicolas Pépé, etc.), but for those clubs that are less cash-rich, it ceases to even be an option. Instead, clubs that are striving for long-term, sustainable success are required to shop smart in an increasingly expensive global market.
The “Red Bull Model” is often lauded as the paragon of smart recruitment, and rightly so given their exemplary record of unearthing gems from underrated leagues before selling them on for a healthy profit. In the last four seasons alone, Red Bull Salzburg have made a profit of £113m from the sales of just six players: Erling Haaland to Borussia Dortmund (£7.2m > £18m), Dominik Szoboszlai to Red Bull Leipzig (£450k > £19.8m), Enock Mwepu to Brighton (£1.4m > £20.7m), Patson Daka to Leicester (£225k > £27m), Karim Adeyemi to Dortmund (£9.1m > £27m) and Brenden Aaronson to Leeds (£11.4m > £29.6m). This conveyor belt of talent is showing no signs of stopping either with Mohamed Camara, Nicolas Seiwald, Luka Sučić, Noah Okafor, Oumar Solet, Junior Adamu, Sékou Koïta, Benjamin Šeško, and Roko Šimić all likely to command lofty fees over the course of the next few transfer windows.
Unfortunately for clubs based in the United Kingdom, Brexit has made it incredibly difficult to sign young prospects from Europe. This has meant that there are far fewer bargains to be had on the continent, as players will either have to prove themselves first, driving their price up, or sign for an affiliate club (e.g. Midtjylland – Brentford) before moving to the Premier League. This post-Brexit complication has prompted English clubs to turn their attention elsewhere, namely South America, a region that the U.K.’s new points-based system favours on account of them not being in the European Union. We have already seen Brighton explore this market, most recently in Paraguay with Libertad’s promising young striker, Julio Enciso, but also in Ecuador with Independiente del Valle’s Moisés Caicedo, who looks set to be a consistent starter in 2022-23.
Given South America’s rich footballing history, it goes without saying that their leagues are blessed with a wealth of talented players. This six-part series, prompted by the benefits involved in mid-level Premier League clubs recruiting undervalued non-E.U. players, will use data to highlight some of the continent’s most exciting talents who look ready to take the next step toward stardom. Roll call, please…
Carlos Alcaraz (19), Racing Club
No, not the tennis player, though the Argentinian central midfielder has been serving first-class performances week in, week out in the Primera División for a while now, earning himself a host of admirers along the way. Despite being just 19 years old, Alcaraz has established himself as a key figure at Racing Club under ex-Real Madrid midfielder, Fernando Gago, whose guidance he has no doubt benefitted from since Gago became manager in October 2021.
Alcaraz’s ability to hold his own at the top of the Argentinian game is as much about his confidence as it is his skill. Not many players would have the courage to take a penalty in a Copa Libertadores shootout, not least against Flamengo in front of a hostile Maracanã crowd, two days after celebrating your 18th birthday. Alcaraz remained completely unphased though, slotting the fourth penalty home like a seasoned professional, helping Racing Club advance to the next round of the competition – ice in his veins. He has also established himself as the first-choice free-kick taker at Racing Club, a role that is usually reserved for a more senior player, though I doubt there have been many arguments since he scored two from about 30 yards out.
This confidence sometimes bleeds over into aggression though, which is both a strength and a weakness of Alcaraz’s game. On the one hand, his aggression makes him a dogged presser in the final third, often forcing turnovers when the opposing number six is in possession. And he’s not afraid of an aerial duel either, winning 60.5% of them despite being just 5’9”, including two headed goals this season. The downside of this tenacity is that he frequently picks up bookings; he has already received eight yellow cards in 2022, despite playing just 1,680 minutes, that’s 0.43 yellows per 90. Everyone loves an aggressive midfielder, but you also want your best players playing in every game, not serving a suspension every ten games of the season.
When he is on the pitch, Alcaraz is a real goal threat, with a number of finishes in his locker, including the previously mentioned headers and freekicks, as well as long-range efforts and carefully placed volleys. Though he is a central midfielder, he has taken more shots (40) than any Racing Club player this season, averaging three shots per 90, 40% of which hit the target whilst six of those found the back of the net. His goal-scoring ability is a product of his other primary strength, finding pockets of space, whether that’s inside the box, outside the box, or in the half-space. Alcaraz is at his best when deployed as the most advanced central midfielder in a midfield three, a role that gives him the freedom to occupy pockets in front of a retreating defence or arrive late in the opposition box before a defender can pick him up. And, when he can’t get his shot away, his delicate touch around the box, coupled with his vision, allows him to play reverse passes and dink balls over trailing legs of opposition defenders, setting up one-on-one opportunities for onrushing teammates.
Alcaraz’s impressive form and unique skillset suggest that it won’t be long until he earns himself a move to Europe, with rumours suggesting that Wolves, Tottenham, Atlético Madrid, PSV, and both the Milan sides have been keeping tabs on the young Argentine starlet. If the most recent reports are to be believed, then Alcaraz will soon be playing for FC Porto, assuming Racing Club accept their £12.75m bid. Personally, I would be intrigued to see how he would fare playing as a wide 10 in a gegenpressing 4222 system, but Ralph Hasenhüttl seems to have done his business this summer and Ralf Rangnick is no longer a club manager. Wherever he ends up though, I expect him to continue his development and establish himself as a key player eventually, before going on to earn his next club a healthy profit when the European elite come calling.
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