Football talents are everywhere.
Every kid nowadays uploads a video to youtube, and have someone to call him the ‘next Messi’ or the ‘new Ronaldo’.
Baba Scouted is weekly scouting report, dedicated to the hard-working unsung heroes, of tomorrow.
Our scout, Juan Gafas, is recommending local talents from all over the world. He might know something we don’t.
Anderson Contreras
Age: 19
Club: Caracas FC (Venezuela)
Position: Centre Midfielder
Nationality: Venezuelan
Market Value: 350.000 € (Transfermarkt)
Why follow him? When he was 18, Contreras was already one of Caracas' best players, with more than 30 appearances in the first-team of one of the country's biggest clubs. He started 2020 in good shape, scoring three goals in eight league and Copa Libertadores games before COVID-19 stopped everything.
He tends to play as a central midfielder, sometimes as a No. 10, has excellent technical skills on the ball as well as vision, with a wide passing range. Physically he is not impressive and has a lot to improve, but he is not 'shy' when fighting for the ball, and has a good engine for the level he is playing at now. His quality in set pieces, both in delivery balls and the direct attempts, is a bonus too.
While he is not that good defensively, I don't see it as a significant problem. The thing that worries me most is his ability to improve, and the main reason he needs to go and play at higher levels is his awareness of spaces and opponents upon receiving the ball. In the low-paced Venezuelan league football, his skills and agility are enough to get away from trouble, but in stronger leagues, he will need to play much quicker.
Venezuelan football does not enjoy a high reputation around the world. Still, in recent years it had some success with the younger generations coming in, and I believe that Contreras has what it takes to be one of these success stories.
Photo from Anderson Contreras Facebook Page.
