Brazilian playmaker Piazon is seen as Chelsea’s brightest youth prospect, and Chelsea’s summer spending spree must be careful not to hinder his progression.
18-year-old Lucas Piazon is yet to make a first team appearance for Chelsea, yet his is a name which gets supporters buzzing.
The Kaka-lookalike is touted as the club’s next superstar, a gem in their youth ranks who is seemingly certain to break through.
He was instrumental in Chelsea winning this season’s Youth Cup, inspiring the team to wins over Manchester United along the way.
Except as we know when it comes to young players, there are no certainties, regardless of talent, but Chelsea will be reluctant to see Piazon’s talents go to waste.
We ran an article on Piazon’s progress back in February, to which one Chelsea fan commented he could not see him given a chance next season if the club buy too many players this summer.
So with Eden Hazard signed and the Chelsea revolution in full swing, with Hulk expected to be next, what are Piazon’s chances like next season?
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On the face of it so far, you have to say signs are positive, despite the new arrivals.
Piazon is not yet at the level of a Hazard or a Marin, so the signings of the two more established playmakers should not hinder his progress unnecessarily.
At the end of the season, Piazon, Chelsea’s Young Player of the Year, was so close to first team football he could touch it.
He was named as a substitute on the final day against Blackburn Rovers, but did not make it onto the pitch; it is not the first time he has got so close- in February he was named by Villas-Boas as a sub for the 3-3 draw with Manchester United and previously against Swansea.
While a youth team player, he did not come cheap. Chelsea paid £5 million for his services from Sao Paolo, a fee which could eventually rise to £10 million. It might though just be a bargain.
Piazon is a youth international for Brazil’s under-17 side, and has every chance of being picked by the nation for the OIympic tournament.
A tournament which once graced a young Lionel Messi, it should not be dismissed, and if he is picked he could just become the star of the show and ignite his Chelsea career.
Piazon plays as a second striker, or a winger, or can drop deeper, but will suit Chelsea’s 4-2-3-1 formation and could be perfect back-up for Juan Mata in the central position if the club wish to rotate.
Both Marin and Hazard prefer to play wide, so their arrivals should not hold him back.
Even so, a regular place in Chelsea’s side may be too big an ask next season, but it will depend on his manager- whoever he is – and which new arrivals are yet to come.
However his talent is so bright that the club must be careful not to place too many obstacles in his path to the first team.
He is likely to be given a chance in the Carling Cup – or the Capital One Cup – as it will be called from next season, and build from there.
Either way, 2012/13 looks set to be the year Piazon makes his long awaited first team debut for Chelsea.
Will Piazon get a chance next season?
image: © klobetime
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