What happens with Colombian soccer players?
In Colombia there are teams that have greatly strengthened their youth system. Medellín is one of them. In its minor divisions, several players have been trained and sold to foreign football.
Miguel Monsalve, 21 years old, left for Gremio de Porto Alegre in 2024. Jhon Edwin Montaño, just 19 years oldwas bought by the City Group, owner of the English Manchester City, and this Wednesday the sale of winger Juan David Arizala to Udinese of Italy in exchange for 3 million euros was confirmed.
While the 20-year-old player from Nariña, who shone with the Colombian National Team in the World Cup of the category that was held in Chile, leaves the red team, Montaño, who left Medellín for Lommel in the second division of Belgium, returned on loan for one year, with an option to purchase, to the team in which he was formed. In Belgian football he did not find the consistency that was expected. Although he played 14 games, he failed to score a goal and barely played 295 minutes on the field.
His return has generated joy and excitement. However, it revived the discussion of whether or not it is appropriate for Creole players to be sold abroad at such a young age, because it is difficult for them to adapt to other cultures. Montaño is not the only example. Something similar happened 10 years ago. Marlos Moreno who, being a figure of Atlético Nacional, was sold to Grupo City.
He didn’t adapt. He had a bad time in Europe. In a conversation with this newspaper he stated that it was not a good decision to leave so young. He said that he realized that he had shortcomings in tactical training, in how to understand the game. That’s why it didn’t go as expected. There are also cases like that of the footballer Yáser Asprilla, who left as a young figure and, although he has had sparks, has not managed to consolidate himself with Girona in Spain, show all his power.
Kevin Mantilla, who is also in the DIM, did not adapt to Argentina, while Óscar Perea struggles to establish himself in France. It would be better for the Creole player to mature first before leaving the country.
How do Colombians move in the transfer market?
The main protagonist of the novel of the transfer market in South America at this moment is the Antioquia winger Sebastián Villa. The Colombian footballer, who appeared with Independiente Rivadavia of Argentina last year, is wanted by River Plate. The “millionaire” cast looked for it. However, the footballer’s representatives made a financial request that, they say, exceeded what they thought about Núñez.
That’s why there was talk that the operation could collapse. However, Villa said on Tuesday that he wanted to go to the cross-wing team, play with Juan Fernando Quintero and that if Marcelo Gallardo called him, he would sign a contract with a closed eye. We have to wait for the outcome. Meanwhile, José Enamorado, a Junior figure, is close to arriving at the Gremio de Porto Alegre in Brazil. Joel Canchimbo would sign with Botafogo.
