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The time has come to fly. Linda Caicedo has been surprising everyone in Colombian soccer for three years. She did it first at the age of 15 when she debuted as a professional at América de Cali and scored a great goal in the “Maradonian” style, leaving the rivals seated, then he began to consolidate and won his first league, then he took on a tough challenge that was to lead Deportivo Cali to win the first star and he did it.
His talent had to be in the national teams where he also broke it. She is a figure and protagonist in the Sub 17, Sub 20 and older. The 17-year-old player did not get tired of dribbling, partnering, scoring, assisting and being in all the World Cups. Total crack. Her talent made Europe start to notice her. She is perhaps one of the players with the most promising future. Recently The Guardian He put her among the 100 best soccer players, being the youngest on the list.
2022, his best year as a footballer
2022 will be one of the unforgettable years in Linda Caicedo’s career, she played in the South Americans, played two World Cups and one Copa América with the senior team. In most it was the best in Colombia. In the Sub 20 World Cup she was one of the highlights, in the Sub 17 she took the silver ball for his presentation with the National Team where he achieved a historic event that was to play a final of a FIFA tournament.
Caicedo was also the best player in the Copa América Femenina in which Colombia was second. The IFFHS recently highlighted her as the best under 20 player in the world y He fought until the end with the Spanish Alexia Putellas in the Globe Soccer.
Barcelona, possible destination of Linda Caicedo
Several clubs in Europe are waiting for February 22, 2023, the day Linda Caicedo will be 18 years old. Being of legal age, the operation will not be complicated, at this moment she is a free player and can negotiate with any other club. Barcelona is the one that has shown the most interest in having it. Although in the first instance he would be in the second team, they hope that his stay there will be short.
Joan Laporta, president of Barcelona, was in Colombia in 2022 and in an event he assured that they like Linda’s talent and although she did not give details so that other clubs do not get interested and improve conditions, The leader assured that they have been following it for several years and that it is one of the main objectives.
“We have liked Linda Caicedo for a long time, if I must be honest, maybe three years ago, She is a very young player, but she has also stood out and is very good. We in our scouting department do have it in our objective, ”said Laporta.
“Come out and enjoy”
As Johan Cruyff told his managers in Barcelona“go out and enjoy”, is perhaps the best phrase for Linda Caicedo who had a very demanding year. In 2023 he must enjoy and show his natural talent. Lluís Cortés, who was champion with the Catalan women’s team, stressed that his process to Europe must be calm and without the need to press it.
“Linda has the wood to become the Ballon d’Or, but first she has to be able to make the right decisions, they are 17 years old and she is very young. It has a certain repercussion, but you have to take care of it, not exploit it at a competitive level, you have to respect all that “highlighted the Spanish DT in AS Colombia.
On the other hand, Carlos Paniagua, the revelation coach of Colombian soccer and who enjoyed it all of 2022, assured that after the World Cup in India, told her to take a break and make the best decision for her future. “I told her after the World Cup in India to be calm that she decides with her family and that I hope she has a very good representative. to know where it will go. The truth is a very intelligent player, poised, serious, humble, a positive leader on and off the pitch, with tremendous conditions”, said the strategist.
It is not yet known which team he will play for next year. Everything indicates that it will be from Europe. Linda Caicedo wants to succeed and be important, as well as Leicy Santos in Spain and Yoreli Rincón in Italy. February will be the month of definition. Next year is the Senior World Cup and one of the top stars of the National Team will need regularity and minutes.
