Alan Shearer told BBC Sport (broadcast on 20/11; 15:51) that Arsenal and Liverpool target Moises Caicedo will be a top player before watching the midfielder play for his country in the World Cup opener.
Ecuador got off to a good start in the tournament. On Sunday, they defeated Qatar 2-0. The South Americans barely had to shift out of second gear to take the three points.
Caicedo was very good in the middle of the park. And that surely bodes well for the remaining group games when some of his admirers will surely take a much more serious look at his performances.
Reports from the Sunday Mirror in August suggested that Arsenal, West Ham, and Manchester United all want the £4.5 million Brighton star. Meanwhile, 90min added shortly after that Liverpool is also in the running.
Caicedo has been a revelation in the Premier League this season. And ahead of the curtain-raiser, Shearer suggested that he is going to go a long way in his career.
“He’s going to be a top player and he could be one that really stands out. He’s only 21 and he’s the heartbeat of this young side,” he said, as reported by BBC Sport.
“He made his debut two years ago and the manager asked him to man-mark Lionel Messi which tells you the trust he has in him. He can do a little bit of everything, he’s athletic, he can tackle, he can pass, he can read the game. Scores one or two goals.”
Caicedo’s performance against Qatar is not going to win him a big move away from the Seagulls. But the World Cup could certainly play a key role in what is threatening to be a real breakout season for the 21-year-old.
As Shearer suggests, he looks to have an incredibly high ceiling. And he should only get better now that he is playing a key role for the club and country.
It is a bright start for Ecuador. But bigger challenges lie ahead, with their group also including Senegal and the Netherlands.
But with Sadio Mane now out of the tournament, they will take the real belief that they could get themselves into the knockout stages after winning their opener.
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