Scout Report: Juan Manuel Iturbe

Name: Juan Manuel Iturbe
DOB: June 4, 1993
Nationality: Argentina
Position: Attacking Midfielder (Left, Centre), Secondary Striker
Interested Clubs: Real Madrid, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Napoli, Roma, Genoa, FC Porto

Juan Manuel Iturbe was originally born in Argentina, yet moved to Paraguay with his parents at a young age and joined the Paraguayan club Cerro Porteno on non-contract terms as a 16 year old, where he made eleven appearances in the Paraguayan Primera División. His prodigious talent was discovered soon after, and subsequently earned him an apparent free transfer to Quilmes in August 2010, with the player appearing on the club website.

Porto FC officials confirmed that the club had reached an agreement with Iturbe’s former club Cerro Porteno, estimated at around €1.5m, and announced that they will be meeting with the player in order to agree personal terms. The confusion surrounds the transfer of Iturbe to Quilmes. As the player was 17 years old, he was not eligible for a professional contract with Porteno, and allegedly signed for Quilmes and has been training with the club since. Porteno allege that the club still holds Iturbe’s player registration and, as such, are free to negotiate his transfer.

While an air of mystery surrounds the finer details of the transfer, Iturbe himself has been impressing for Argentina’s U20s at the South America Under-20 Championships. During the Summer, Iturbe’s technical ability was recognised and he was selected as part of the nation’s ‘Sparring Squad’, an ensemble of the most promising youngsters who trained with the senior side in South Africa.

Iturbe is accepted to have been hugely impressive, earning him a berth within the U20 side and is a player widely expected to walk in the footsteps of Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain and Angel Di Maria by representing Argentina at the London Olympics in 2012.

Iturbe has been likened to Lionel Messi, small and slight of build at just 5’6, he boasts supreme ball control and his low centre of gravity allows him great speed and balance as he looks to run at his man. Although earning himself a reputation as an attacking midfielder at Cerro Porteno, Iturbe has pigeonholed into a more ‘Messi-like’ position for Argentina, playing in an advanced, left-sided position akin to how Messi plays for Barcelona.

Clubs with scouts operating in South America will have known about Iturbe for some time. Real Madrid have long thought to be admirers of the youngster, while he was brought to Manchester United’s attention by their scouting network in March 2010. Genoa, too, have long harboured an interest in the player, with club officials declaring that they were looking at a “Supremely talented South American youngster, who has world class potential.”

Porto appeared to have stolen a march on some of the giants of European football, but if Juan Manuel Iturbe can realise his apparent potential, then it’s difficult to imagine him staying with Os Dragões for long.