After the World Cup in Brazil 2014, it was clear that Enner Valencia will leave Mexican club, Pachuca, to play in Europe.
There was a debate of what should the club do after selling the Ecuadorian star to West Ham. Should they use part of the money to bring another South American big name or to use it to develop other parts of their infrastructure?
Having one of the best football academies in Mexico, the management has opted to give a chance to a young talented player named Hirving Lozano. Growing up in the local academy since age 11, Lozano, who is also going by his nickname "Chucky", was a familiar face to the sporting team of the first squad. On February 8th, 2014, Enrique Meza gave a chance to Lozano against Club America in Estadio Azteca. It didn't take long, and on the 83rd minute, Lozano has scored his debut goal on his first appearance, eventually winning the game. The rest is history.
From the beginning, it was clear that Lozano is something different. He became a father at a very young age of 18, and has always aimed to produce the best out of himslef. Having a family is a right motivation, and with a young baby at home, the urge to succeed at any cost and prove himself separated him from the other talents in the Pachuca academy.
Chucky, a quiet and calm person, wasn't shy about his targets and goals. On the pitch, Lozano is a different person. His constant activeness, with his super-fast pace and a tricky mind, has given a stamp of assurance to his diabolic nickname. Winning the Mexican title as well CONCACAF Champions League left no doubt that unlike most Mexican talents, Lozano will leave for Europe sooner rather than later.
His coach in the academy was Dutch Jan Westerhof, who knew that Lozano could go far in his career, and after Chucky has proved that he is one level above the local league, Westerhof gladly gave his recommendation to PSV when the Dutch giants came to ask for Lozano. Showing his qualities with the national team only helped to prove that Lozano can succeed somewhere else.
His time in the Netherlands was a successful one, indeed. He scored 17 goals each season and has provided 11 assists per term as well. His first season was tremendous, with PSV winning the championship title and Chucky arguably being the best player in the Eredivisie. In his second season, he produced good numbers, although wasn't able to win the title again. Personally, Lozano had a good time in the Netherlands, and his family enjoyed living there. But Chucky has a fire inside him. He always looks for the next challenge and moving away to a bigger club was eventually the only option. The only question was where this explosive Mexican talent would go.
In a brief look back, there was an indirect clue for this question in the past. It was on Lozano’s debut with PSV in Holland. In the stands sat one that goes by the name Diego Armando Maradona. Like anytime that Lozano plays in a debut game, he also scored that same day, leaving good taste with PSV fans and good impression on the former Napoli legend.
It might be only a coincidence, or might be a cosmic plan, but two years after that game in front the judging eyes of one of the best to play the game, Lozano has moved to the club where Maradona is a semi-god. Lozano is a very different type of player than Maradona, and not as talented as was the Argentinian, but arriving at Naples, Lozano can fulfill his targets.
Maradona himself declared, regarding Lozano's transfer, that the Mexican is a great player that could help Napoli to achieve its goals. Nevertheless, the Serie A in recent years is a stage for one and only protagonist - Juventus from Turin. But who knows, maybe Maradona is right, and Lozano could be the X-factor that will bring the Scudetto to San Paolo for the first time since the heroic times of Diego himself.