They say in Montevideo that Bielsa asked about Andrés Ferrari, a 20-year-old striker that Defensor Sporting has just sold to Villarreal of Spain, who missed the South American U20 due to injury but who will now play the World Cup in Argentina. He is a legitimate Loco, as when he took over in Vélez (1997) and surprised with some names of the inferior ones that many leaders did not know and soon put Lucas Castromán, 17 years old, as a winger, in front of a defense of three.
Bielsa knows that Uruguay has heroes who played four World Cups (Luis Suárez, Edinson Cavani, Diego Godín and Fernando Muslera, all between 36 and 37 years old) and that the objective is renewal. Of these, only Godín said that his celestial stage had ended. The challenge seems tailor-made for Bielsa, who is most motivated by the training of young players and who true to that was confirmed will lead the Under 23 who will seek to be Olympic.
It will be the time of those who have been standing out in Europe, such as Federico Valverde (24 years old, Real Madrid), Ronald Araújo (24, Barcelona), Darwin Núñez (23, Liverpool) and others less known to us such as Manuel Ugarte, a 22-year-old central midfielder, who plays for Sporting Lisbon but who they say has a future in the Premier League.
Marcelo Bielsa with the blue shirt of the Uruguay national team. EFE/ Gaston Britos
And some Bielsista surprise too.
In goal, Muslera was no longer a starter in Qatar 2022 and in defense he still has José María Giménez, of Atlético de Madrid, plus Araújo. In the middle of the field is where he seems to have more variety, adding Nicolás De La Cruz (25, River), Giorgian de Arrascaeta (28, Flamengo) and Rodrigo Bentancur (25, Tottenham), who for now can not count on an injury.
They are also joined by Fabricio Díaz, another central midfielder, 19 years old and from local Liverpool, who is wanted by Barcelona of Spain.
It seems more complicated the succession of the duo of Salto: Suárez and Cavani, both 36 years old. Messi's friend is playing in Gremio of Brazil, with continuity; Riquelme's dream for Boca tries to gambet the relegation with the Spanish Valencia. Will the Fool take them into account?
Bielsa receives a gift from Ignacio Alonso, president of the AUF. EFE/ Gaston Britos
The focus is on Darwin Núñez, who in his first season at Jürgen Klopp's Liverpool has scored 15 goals in 42 games, but with a current streak of five games without celebrating.
Below are Facundo Torres (23, Orlando City). Or Álvaro Rodríguez, 18 years old and 1.92 tall. Real Madrid did not loan him for the Under-20 World Cup. Carlo Ancelotti has given him some minutes and assured that "Next season he will be in the first team squad because he has a quality that few have at his age, he has important height, he is a powerful player, he goes well with his head, he handles the ball well". In the recent South American category he scored 5 goals, the same as Luciano Rodríguez (19), of the Uruguayan Liverpool.
They, along with Ferrari, seem to be leading the renewal. Plus some Bielsa-style surprises.
See also
