Football scouting is a hard job.
While searching for the new Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, our scout, Juan Gafas, is recommending local talents from all over the world.
Alan Rodríguez
Age: 20
Club: Defensor Sporting (Uruguay)
Position: Central Midfielder, Attacking midfielder, Winger.
Nationality: Uruguayan
Market Value: N/A (Transfermarkt)
Why follow him? While he is not the top player in Uruguay for his age group, he had a good debut season, scoring five goals and an excellent start of the 2020 season just before football stopped.
I have a soft spot for Alan's type of players, hard-working as they come and always trying to be useful. He is neither big nor strong, but his never-say-die approach and excellent work rate make him effective when defending.
In possession, he is very dynamic; asking for the ball and trying to break lines. He is especially good when dribbling quickly forward upon receiving the ball. He is a versatile player, we've even seen him play as a full back a couple of times, but he is at his best as a box to box midfielder or a bit wide with a defensive midfielder behind him.
He still lacks awareness and vision, which impairs his decision making. He often takes too many touches or being forced back under pressure. He might not have the potential as others I have mentioned in the past, but the character is of significant importance in a player's development, and he has a lot of it.
Photo via Alan Rodriguez official Twitter account.
