Velez Sarsfield Fernando Gago is desperate to stop Thiago Almada leaving for Leeds United this summer, joking to TYC that he will keep the ‘new Messi’ captive to stop him from leaving for Elland Road.
Whether this latest Argentine sensation is the real deal remains to be seen.
After all, he is far from the first fresh-faced wonderkid to be labelled Lionel Messi’s successor over the last ten years – but he might just be the most talented of the lot.
At the age of 19, Almada is already the creative lynchpin of one of Argentina’s biggest clubs, scoring nine times in 46 games while bamboozling defenders all over South America with his tricky feet and explosive acceleration.
Barcelona and Arsenal have been linked, via Mundo Deportivo, along with a whole host of European powerhouses.
But, with a legendary Argentine manager working wonders at Elland Road, there is a very real chance that West Yorkshire could soon be welcoming a £20 million wonderkid with open arms (Ole).
Not that Gago, a 61-time international formerly of Real Madrid, Roma and Valencia, is willing to bid farewell just yet.
“These are very personal decisions but Tiago is going to have to stay one more year because he has already given me his word,” Gago quips.
“He is going to have to stay here, otherwise I won’t let him leave the house. If he leaves, he will have to pay for a barbecue … we are going to make him stay!”
Almada got pulses racing all over West Yorkshire last week when he admitted, via TYC, that he would jump at the chance to hone his dazzling talents under Bielsa.
“I saw some Leeds highlights and I saw something similar to what we do here in Vélez,” says Almada.
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