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About me

After starting to gain interest in scouting in 2019, I decided to start Target Scouting together with Luke Griffin in 2020. Together, we built an online database on our website with over thousand match- and scout reports. Currently, I manage and coordinate a global team of video scouts together with Josse van Bakel. 

My interest in scouting has always been South American football, and I prefer to watch leagues that are/were undervalued such as the Ecuadorian competition. I started following Ecuadorian youth football intensively in 2022 and managed to discover talents such as Kendry Páez (transfer to Chelsea), Justin Lerma (transfer to Borussia Dortmund) and Joel Ordóñez (transfer to Club Brugge). 

This document has been created to demonstrate my video scouting ability. I focused on players who could be of interest for European clubs or MLS teams. I did not consider players who are already signed by European clubs (e.g. Kendry Páez, Claudio Echeverri) or those who are not yet eligible for a transfer because they are under 18 (e.g. Deinner Ordóñez). Lastly, I decided to focus on potentially undervalued players. Players such as Alisson Santana and Ian Subiabre are promising players but likely to cost over €10m. If you wish to receive a list of players in this category, please send me a message. I also did not include Allen Obando who is reportedly close to a move to Grupo Atletico Madrid.

I am currently on the lookout for a role as a video scout for a professional football club, agency or consultancy. My CV is available upon request. I will leave my personal details below.

My personal details:

Email: jeroentegelaers1@gmail.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeroen-tegelaers-354141247/

X/Twitter: https://x.com/JPT5_

Rating system

I use a simple rating system that assesses a player’s potential development over a five-year period. In other words, the rating reflects where I expect the player to be in five years based on their potential. 

This system primarily focuses on players who could be signed as long-term projects rather than short-term ones, as most of these players are around the age of 18.

Here is the rating system:

A – Potential to play for UEFA Champions League quarter-final clubs (e.g., Manchester City, Real Madrid, etc.).

B – Potential to play for upper mid-level clubs in Europe (e.g. Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, AS Monaco, etc.).

C – Potential to play for top clubs outside the top five European leagues (e.g. Benfica, Porto, Sporting, Ajax, PSV, Feyenoord, etc.).

D – Potential to play for mid-level clubs outside the top five European leagues (e.g. Shakhtar Donetsk, Copenhagen, Basel, etc.).

E – Potential to play for top clubs in South America outside Brazil and Argentina (e.g. Independiente del Valle, Liga de Quito, Peñarol, Libertad, Olimpia).

F – Unlikely to play for top South American clubs outside Brazil and Argentina.

Igor Serrote (Brazil)

• Position: Right-Back
• Club: Gremio
• Date of birth: 01/03/2005

Igor Serrote is a 19-year-old right-back who plays for Grêmio and Brazil U-20. He made his first-team debut for Grêmio in 2024 but has only made five appearances for them so far. 

Standing at 1.80 meters with an average build, Igor has an interesting build for a full-back. He is quite quick on first meters and generates good speed over longer distances. Igor is fairly athletic, changing directions and shifting his body weight quickly. He has decent strength in shoulder-to-shoulder duels. Despite having mixed results, Igor attacks the ball well in aerial duels.

Defensively, Igor Serrote is a front-footed and proactive defender. His proactive and aggressive defending leads to many interceptions as he displays good timing stepping up and getting in front of his opponent. The Brazilian defender is assertive in duels and forces his opponent backwards. However, his proactive defending can occasionally lead to rashness as he tends to take the bait too easily in defensive 1v1s. He gets dribbled past a few times after attempting to defend proactively. His overcommitment in defensive 1v1s is his biggest weakness but should be coachable. Igor Serrote covers the back of the right centre-back, Iago Teodoro, well and is willing to put his body on the line to block shots. 

The Brazilian right-back is very active in attack, making many overlapping runs but also creating space for Alisson or Rayan Vitor with underlapping runs. He has decent crossing technique but his execution is quite inconsistent. Igor is fairly confident on the ball in first-phase possession. He plays quite some strong line-breaking passes into the attack with both feet, although the execution on his passes is occasionally sloppy. He has a decent touch under pressure and carries the ball well. Igor strikes the ball fairly well from distance. He switches play well. 

It does not look like there is much perspective for Igor Serrote in Brazil, meaning that he could be an undervalued player. Although he is not that interesting for elite clubs in the top 5 leagues, I think he could become a decent player for mid-table teams in Portugal such as FC Famalicão or Santa Clara in the future.

Rating: D+ – Potential to play for mid-level clubs in Portugal, The Netherlands or Belgium (e.g. FC Famalicão, Santa Clara).

Lucas Agazzi (Uruguay)

• Position: Right-Back
• Club: Defensor Sporting
• Date of birth: 02/05/2005

Lucas Agazzi is a 19-year-old right-back who plays for Defensor Sporting and Uruguay U-20. The right-back has played 65 matches for Defensor Sporting, having played most of these matches as a winger. However, for Uruguay U-20, he played as a right-back in an attacking-minded 4-3-3.

Standing at 1.80 meters with an average build, Lucas Agazzi has a good build for a full-back. The Uruguayan defender displays above average speed over short distances and good speed over longer distances. He has smooth changes of directions, shifting his body weight quickly. Agazzi displays decent strength in physical duels. He has fairly average timing in aerial duels, although he has an advantage in aerial duels against smaller wingers with his height. He plays with high intensity and has a lot of energy.

Defensively, Lucas Agazzi did well to put pressure on the opponent within Uruguay’s structure. He was comfortable defending and engaging in duels higher up the pitch, being tasked to press Paraguay’s wing-back in one match. Agazzi had mixed results in defensive 1v1s, mostly displaying good anticipation and quick reactions to directional changes but sporadically taking the bait and getting dribbled past. However, he managed to block crosses well and read the game fairly well. Agazzi covered the back of Montero (RCB) well defending crosses from the other wing.

The Uruguayan right-back mostly provided width for Uruguay. He displays a good first touch under pressure and understands where the space is. Although he sporadically is sloppy with his passing, Agazzi is mostly clean on the ball and carries the ball well. He also is capable of playing dangerous angled passes into the striker. He switches play well and displays decent crossing technique, also putting in a few good cut-backs with one of them leading to a goal. Agazzi attacks the space behind the defensive line well with both under- and overlapping runs.

Although Lucas Agazzi is not the most talented right-back in this tournament, I think there is a future in Europe for him in this position, purely based on this tournament. With his Italian passport, he might be an interesting target for mid-table clubs in the Eredivisie.

Rating: D – Potential to play for mid-level clubs outside the top five European leagues (e.g. Shakhtar Donetsk, Copenhagen, Basel, etc.).

Iago Teodoro (Brazil)

• Position: Centre-Back
• Club: Flamengo
• Date of birth: 18/04/2005

Iago Teodoro is a 19-year-old centre-back who plays for Flamengo and Brazil U-20. He came through the youth academy of Volta Redonda before joining Flamengo at the age of 16. Iago Teodoro has not yet broken through at Flamengo, only playing one match in the state championships for the first team. He is a U-20 Copa Libertadores and Intercontinental Cup winner.

Standing at around 1.89 meters with a strong build, Iago Teodoro dominates in physical duels. The centre-back displays decent speed over short distances and above average speed over longer distances. He displays slightly above average athleticism, although he could work on this aspect in the near future. Iago Teodoro dominates through the air both defensively and offensively, being a real aerial threat from set-pieces for both Flamengo and Brazil U-20.

Defensively, Iago Teodoro reads the game fairly well. He is not the most proactive defender but also is not a passive defender. He steps up well and at the right time to intercept passes, displaying good anticipation and defensive decision-making. He scans well covering large spaces in behind, being attentive to runners in behind and covering them adequately. Iago Teodoro closes gaps towards the right-back and left centre-back well. He clears a lot of crosses due to his aerial strength and good positioning.

On the ball, Iago Teodoro displays a few inconsistencies although I believe he could get better on the ball. The Brazilian centre-back displays good vision on the ball, spotting teammates in space between the lines and trying to find them with line-breaking passes. The execution of his passes is inconsistent, as he occasionally fails to keep the ball on the ground. Iago Teodoro has made a handful of errors on the ball on his own half leading to dangerous situations at times. His long passing is slightly inconsistent but he has good technique.

Like Igor Serrote, Iago Teodoro does not seem to have much perspective in Brazil at the moment. I think Iago Teodoro would be a good long-term signing for several mid-table Portuguese clubs who could potentially sell him on to a bigger club in Portugal later on.

Rating: C- – Potential to play for clubs a level below top clubs outside of the top 5 leagues (e.g. SC Braga, AZ, Union Saint-Gilloise, Royal Antwerp).

Juan Rodriguez (Uruguay)

• Position: Centre-Back
• Club: CA Peñarol
• Date of birth: 30/05/2005

Juan Rodríguez is a 19-year-old left-footed central defender who plays for CA Peñarol and Uruguay U-20. He came through Peñarol’s youth academy and spent the season on loan at Boston River last year, gaining his first bit of experience at senior level. Rodriguez plays as a left central defender in Uruguay’s 4-2-3-1.

Standing at 1.90 meters with a slightly slim build, Juan Rodríguez displays slightly above average on longer distances. He displays decent agility. The Uruguayan defender showcases inconsistent strength in physical duels. Rodríguez once allowed his opponent to turn away from his due to a lack of physical strength. He has decent jumping reach in aerial duels and sometimes manages to unsettle his opponent using his hands.

The Uruguayan defender is a front-footed defender who likes to step up and engage in duels. Rodríguez often displays good timing with his interceptions but sporadically lacks the physical strength to dispossess his opponent. He covers gaps out wide and closes gaps well, although his timing is not always perfect. Rodríguez generally times his sliding tackles well. His defensive positioning covering large spaces in behind is decent. His positioning in and around the box is sometimes suboptimal and can lead to dangerous situations that should have been prevented. Rodríguez defends with passion and will put his body on the line to block shots.

On the ball, Juan Rodríguez displays initiative and willingness to progress the ball further up the pitch. He carries the ball into space well in first phase possession and displays good composure under pressure. Rodríguez’s short passing is clean and solid. His long passes are inconsistent, although he has shown the ability to spot runners in behind.

His physical and technical profile mixed with his decent reading of the game make me believe he is an interesting prospect who could transfer to Europe within one or two years. His profile could be suited to playing as a wide centre-back in a three-at-the-back formation, although he also is suited to play as a left centre-back in a four-at-the-back formation.

Rating: C- – Potential to play for clubs a level below top clubs outside of the top 5 leagues (e.g. SC Braga, AZ, Union Saint-Gilloise, Royal Antwerp).

Diego Arroyo (Bolivia)

• Position: Centre-Back
• Club: Bolivar
• Date of birth: 29/04/2005

Diego Arroyo is a 19-year-old left-footed centre-back who plays for Bolivar and Bolivia U-20. Arroyo came through Tahuichi’s youth academy before joining Bolivian giants Bolivar in 2023. After a loan spell at Bahia (fellow CFG member), Arroyo made his first-team debut at Bolivar.

He stands at 1.90m and has a slightly slim build. He is very quick and athletic for someone of his frame. Arroyo covers ground quickly with his long strides, asserting himself with powerful steps. The centre-back is strong in physical duels. He has decent timing and good jumping reach in aerial duels. Arroyo displays excellent confidence and composure.

Playing as a left centre-back in Bolivia’s system, Diego Arroyo defends proactively and with a lot of authority. He steps up assertively and dominates in physical duels. His proactive defensive style helps him to get in front of his opponent and intercept passes. He forces opponents backwards or recovers possession. Arroyo closes gaps out wide well, although in this tournament, he missed one interception leading to a big chance for the opponent. He reacts quickly to directional changes in defensive 1v1s and has the athleticism and quickness to beat the attacker in the defensive 1v1s. Arroyo sporadically has the tendency to lose his opponent out of sight and can fail to track a runner in behind. He clears crosses well.

Despite the mistake that led to a goal for Colombia, Diego Arroyo impresses on the ball with his ability to break lines, his vision and his confidence. The Bolivian defender is composed under pressure and always looks for the option forward. He breaks lines with his passing effortlessly and is quite consistent with his line-breaking passes. Arroyo switches play fairly well, although he sporadically misweighs his passes. He showcases good vision, spotting runners in behind and creating a big chance sporadically. Arroyo likes to carry the ball into midfield after intercepting a pass, although he occasionally gets lost in his own dribbles. However, he carries the ball with confidence and authority and covers ground quickly due to his powerful steps.

Bolivian players rarely make transfers to Europe’s top 8 leagues, but I think Diego Arroyo has the potential to reach this level within a few years if he makes the right career decisions.

Rating: C- – Potential to play for clubs a level below top clubs outside of the top 5 leagues (e.g. SC Braga, AZ, Union Saint-Gilloise, Royal Antwerp).

Ivan Roman (Chile)

• Position: Centre-Back
• Club: CD Palestino
• Date of birth: 12/07/2006

Iván Román is an 18-year-old centre-back who plays for CD Palestino and Chile U-20. The Chilean defender came through the youth academy of the Chilean side and made his first-team debut in 2023 before becoming a regular starter in the 2024 season.

Standing at around 1.82 meters with an average build, Iván Román displays average speed over short distances and decent speed over longer distances. Despite not being the strongest in the duels, he often uses his body efficiently while also displaying decent anticipation in physical duels. However, his lack of strength sometimes hinders him in physical duels. Despite being on the smaller side for a centre-back, he holds his own in aerial duels thanks to his intelligent use of hands and decent jumping reach.

The Chilean defender has played in various systems and roles in this tournament, as Chile had the upper hand in a few matches but also were put under pressure in other games. Iván Román is a proactive defender who likes to step up and defend on the front foot. He often does well to get in front of his opponent to intercept passes/clearances defending high up the pitch. The Chilean displays good defensive decision-making in transition, often doing well to stop counter-attacks. Iván Román times his sliding tackles fairly well. Defending in a higher defensive line, Román covers runners in behind well and cuts the passing lanes. Román often sees runners coming from far and reacts adequately. He also closes gaps out wide and inside well.

On the ball, Iván Román displays solid and clean short passing. His long passing technique is decent and switches play well. He is composed under pressure but sporadically struggled under pressure with his one-touch passing. Román has good vision in possession and can carry the ball into the midfield confidently.

Iván Román seems like quite an interesting centre-back for middle-sized clubs in Europe such as FC Copenhagen or Shakhtar Donetsk, although his ceiling is not much higher than that.

Rating: D – Potential to play for mid-level clubs outside the top five European leagues (e.g. Shakhtar Donetsk, Copenhagen, Basel, etc.).

Gonzalo Petit (Uruguay)

• Position: Attacking Midfield
• Club: Nacional
• Date of birth: 21/09/2006

Gonzalo Petit is an 18-year-old midfielder or attacker who plays for Club Nacional and Uruguay U-20. He made his first-team debut for Nacional in July 2024 and was a starter for Uruguay U-20 at the Sudamericano, mostly playing as an attacking midfielder in Uruguay’s 4-2-3-1.

Standing at around 1.90 meters with a slightly slim build, Gonzalo Petit moves quite well for someone of his tall frame despite looking slow/sluggish sporadically. He has decent speed and athleticism. Petit changes directions relatively quickly and battles well in physical duels, also using his body efficiently to hold off opponents.

Gonzalo Petit mostly operates in the left half-space. He has a very clean touch under pressure with both feet and manages to set up his next action perfectly with his smooth touch. His short passing is consistently clean. His long passing is also clean. He displays good close control and creativity on the ball in tight spaces, taking the ball away from pressure well. Petit carries the ball well, displaying a mix between decent speed, strength and good close control on the ball.

The Uruguayan midfielder displays impressive cognitive ability, displaying very quick decision-making and handling speed under pressure. Petit has excellent spatial awareness and often spots things before his teammates/opponents do. Although his one-touch passes don’t always come off, this implies that Gonzalo Petit has huge potential and will have the ability to learn quickly. Petit is inventive on the ball, with an example being that he tried to score from 40m out after spotting the GK off his line. He displays good off-the-ball movement in the final third, being capable of getting into space in the box and making runs behind the defensive line. This resulted in two goals against Paraguay U-20.

I did not watch Gonzalo Petit before this tournament, but he was one of the stand-out players for Uruguay U-20 in the group stage. I think he is one of the most talented players of the group stage and many European clubs would be wise to sign him early before his transfer value rises significantly.

Rating: A – Potential to play for UEFA Champions League quarter-final clubs (e.g., Manchester City, Real Madrid, etc.).

Moises Paniagua (Bolivia)

• Position: Attacking Midfield
• Club: Always Ready
• Date of birth: 16/08/2007

Moises Paniagua is a 17-year-old attacking midfielder who plays for Always Ready and Bolivia U-20. He has already played 69 matches for the Bolivian side. I’ve followed him since his debut for Always Ready in October 2022. He mainly played as a winger for Bolivia U-20 but excels as an attacking midfielder. Paniagua got two assists in four matches.

Standing at 1.69 meters with average build, Moises Paniagua is on the smaller side for an attacking midfielder or winger. He has good speed over short distances and above average speed over longer distances. Paniagua changes directions quickly and displays decent strength on the ball. He does not always track back but worked relatively hard in this tournament.

Playing as a winger for Bolivia U-20, Paniagua mainly received the ball at his feet but also attacked the space behind the defensive line well. He has a good touch under pressure and maintains his composure and control over the ball at all times. Paniagua’s passing over short distances is clean. He prefers to combine with his teammates in tight spaces, roaming around the pitch trying to get into dangerous areas to create a chance or score.

After attacking the space in behind well, Moises Paniagua assisted two goals against Colombia with good cut-backs. His final ball is still slightly inconsistent but he has good vision. Moises Paniagua does well to get into scoring position easily, creating space for himself by dribbling past his opponent or playing quick combinations in tight spaces. Paniagua has decent trickery in attacking 1v1s but lacks the explosiveness to lose his marker. His ball striking from distance and close range is good and he was unlucky not to score in this tournament. Moises Paniagua sporadically lacked matureness on the ball, losing the ball close to his own box.

He reportedly is on his way to a club in the UAE when he turns 18, but I think European clubs need to be attentive to his situation. I think he would be a good signing (but also a gamble) for clubs such as (Jong) PSV/Ajax or Club NXT (Club Brugge). He has the potential to play in the top 5 leagues if he makes the right career decisions and develops nicely.

Rating: C – Potential to play for top clubs outside the top five European leagues (e.g. Benfica, Porto, Sporting, Ajax, PSV, Feyenoord, etc.).

Jordan Barrera (Colombia)

• Position: Attacking Midfield
• Club: Junior
• Date of birth: 11/04/2006

Jordan Barrera is a 18-year-old attacking midfielder who plays for Junior FC and Colombia U-20. He came through Barranquilla FC’s youth academy before being signed by Junior FC, who decided to loan him back to Barranquilla last season. He has played 37 matches, mostly in the second tier of Colombian football.

Standing at 1.75 meters with an average build, Jordan Barrera displays a decent burst on the ball and fairly good speed over longer distances. He is quite athletic. Barrera displays decent strength on the ball, while also battling well in physical duels and working hard to recover possession. He has good jumping reach in aerial duels. Barrera displays good anticipation defensively.

Operating as an attacking midfielder for Colombia U-20, Barrera likes to look for quick combinations down the centre of the pitch. He has a decent touch under pressure and displays decent close control in tight spaces. The attacking midfielder was occasionally sloppy with his passing but displayed a few glimpses of good pass & move actions. The 18-year-old occasionally comes up with smart solutions under pressure, playing smart passes between tight gaps. Barrera switches play well, displaying good long passing technique. His chipped passing is also good.

Jordan Barrera occasionally does well to attack the space and run into the channels, from where he can create chances with low crosses. The Colombian midfielder showcased inconsistent decision-making in the final third, displaying glimpses of quick decision-making under pressure but also having some poor moments in the final third. His shot locations, despite striking the ball fairly well, were also poor at times. He has inconsistent delivery from set-pieces.

Overall, Jordan Barrera has a fairly interesting profile, although I believe he does not have the potential to play for the bigger clubs in the top 5 leagues. Staying in Colombia to refine his decision-making and gain experience before potentially joining a club in Denmark or Switzerland seems on the cards for the Colombian attacking midfielder.

Rating: D – Potential to play for mid-level clubs outside the top five European leagues (e.g. Shakhtar Donetsk, Copenhagen, Basel, etc.).

Keny Arroyo (Ecuador)

• Position: Right Wing
• Club: Independiente del Valle
• Date of birth: 14/02/2006

Keny Arroyo is an 18-year-old right-winger who plays for Independiente del Valle and Ecuador U-20. He also made his debut for the senior team of Ecuador already. Arroyo had his breakthrough season at Independiente del Valle in 2024. I followed him closely since 2022.

Standing at 1.75m meters with an average build, Keny Arroyo has a good on-the-ball burst and he displays above average speed over longer distances. He changes directions quickly and displays decent strength on the ball. Arroyo occasionally failed to transition from attacking to defending quickly throughout this tournament, while also getting two yellow cards in three games.

Keny Arroyo is a high-volume dribbler. He likes to take on his opponents and continues to try even when he fails a few times. Arroyo is skilful and has good trickery in attacking 1v1s but is slightly inconsistent with his dribbles. He displays good close control and is smooth on the ball in tight spaces. His first touch is consistent and good. Arroyo’s short passing is clean. He likes to play quick combinations in central areas. His long passing is also clean.

The Ecuadorian attacker prefers to receive the ball at his feet but he also attacks the space behind the defensive line at times. Arroyo always plays with excellent composure and confidence. He likes to cut inside to his stronger left foot and is capable of delaying his action to create more space for a shot. His ball-striking from distance is very good. He is also very dangerous with his crosses from deep and set-piece deliveries, displaying his excellent crossing technique. Arroyo has great vision, spotting runners in behind well and finding them with well-timed through passes.

I think the Ecuadorian attacker is ready for a move to Europe. He would be a good long-term signing this winter for clubs such as Club Brugge, Ajax and PSV as Keny Arroyo could get integrated slowly into the first team, starting off in the second division of the Dutch or Belgian league with the reserves side.

Rating: B – Potential to play for upper mid-level clubs in Europe (e.g. Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, AS Monaco, etc.).

Andy Batioja (Colombia)

• Position: Right Wing
• Club: Houston Dynamo
• Date of birth: 31/01/2006

Andy Batioja is a 19-year-old left- and right-winger who plays on loan for Houston Dynamo II and Colombia U-20. The attacker came through Atletico Nacional’s youth academy but joined Houston Dynamo in the summer of 2024 on loan with an option to buy.

Standing at 1.82 meters with a slightly slim build, Andy Batioja has an interesting build for a winger. He is quick on the first meters and has good speed over longer distances. He changes directions quickly and smoothly. Batioja has quick feints in 1v1s. He displays decent strength with his back towards the goal but also in shoulder-to-shoulder duels. Batioja occasionally looks switched off out of possession, not tracking back or engaging in the play.

Operating as a right-winger for Colombia U-20, Batioja mostly provides width and stays close to the touchline. The Colombian winger has a decent touch under pressure, although especially his first touch with his weaker left foot can be slightly bouncy at times. He is mostly clean with his short passing but can be sloppy sporadically. Batioja likes to receive the ball at his feet but sporadically makes good runs behind the defensive line too.

The 19-year-old is a very high-volume dribbler and did not make life easy for the opponent’s left-back throughout this tournament. His quick burst, strength on the ball, trickery and quick changes of directions made it tough for defenders to stop him, with many opponents needing to foul him to stop Batioja from running through on goal. Batioja got into scoring and crossing position easily but his decision-making, crossing and finishing in the final third is below average. His crossing technique is fairly average and he does not always pick out the right pass.

Andy Batioja has an extremely interesting profile. His phyiscal profile and natural ability to dribble past his opponents is a big plus. Almost all of his weaknesses, including crossing, finishing and decision-making, are trainable and coachable to a certain extent. This makes me believe Andy Batioja is a winger with great potential, although I do not think he will ever play for elite clubs in Europe.

Rating: D – Potential to play for mid-level clubs outside the top five European leagues (e.g. Shakhtar Donetsk, Copenhagen, Basel, etc.).

Renzo Machado (Uruguay)

• Position: Striker
• Club: Liverpool FC (Montevideo)
• Date of birth: 21/09/2005

Renzo Machado is a 19-year-old striker who plays for Liverpool FC Montevideo and Uruguay U-20. The striker came through the academy of Liverpool FC Montevideo and has played 52 matches for the Uruguayan side at the time of writing. He played as a striker for Uruguay U-20 in their 4-2-3-1 formation in the first stage of the Sudamericano U-20.

Standing at around 1.78 meters with a slightly strong build, Renzo Machado displays above average speed over short and longer distances. He displays decent athleticism. The Uruguayan striker has mixed results in physical duels, while also being inconsistent in aerial duels. He displays decent timing but average jumping reach. He plays with high intensity, although this high intensity occasionally leads to blind pressing without keeping the team’s structure in mind.

Playing as a striker for Uruguay U-20, the right-footed attacker displays good variety between attacking the space and dropping deep to support the build-up play. Machado displays quick handling speed and decision-making under pressure, implying that he has good cognitive ability as he spots things quicker than his opponents. He displays good one-touch passing, showcasing his solid and clean short passing. Machado demonstrates the ability to find teammates between tight gaps with his passing.

Renzo Machado displays a slightly inconsistent but generally good first touch. He understands where to take the ball with his first touch and displays decent ball-carrying ability. Machado demonstrates good off-the-ball movement, finding space into the box or into the channels. The Uruguayan striker gets into scoring position easily and has showcased his fairly good finishing ability in the first stage of this tournament. He strikes the ball well from distance too.

I think Renzo Machado has a very interesting profile with his quick decision-making/handling speed, good off-the-ball movement and fairly strong finishing ability. He has decent to good technique and also has a decent to good physical profile. I think he could be an interesting long-term signing for big clubs in The Netherlands or Portugal. He potentially could outgrow those leagues and move to a good club in the top 5 leagues.

Rating: B – Potential to play for upper mid-level clubs in Europe (e.g. Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, AS Monaco, etc.).

Juan Rossel (Chile)

• Position: Striker
• Club: Universidad Catolica (Chile)
• Date of birth: 17/03/2005

Juan Francisco Rossel is a 19-year-old striker who plays for Universidad Católica (Chile) and Chile U-20. The Chilean attacker came through Universidad Católica’s youth set up before making his first-team debut in 2023. He is yet to become a regular starter for the Chilean side. He was Chile’s captain in the first stage of the tournament playing as a striker in a 4-3-3 and 4-4-2.

Standing at around 1.82 meters with an average build, Juan Rossel has a decent build for a striker. He displays good speed over short and longer distances, while also changing directions fairly quickly. Rossel is athletic and uses his body efficiently in physical duels. He has shown glimpses of good hold-up play. Rossel has good jumping reach in aerial duels but has mixed results as he sporadically gets pushed away in an aerial duel. He tracks back well and works hard.

Juan Rossel likes to drop deep to support the play, but he also attacks the space well with well-timed runs, moving into space behind the defensive line or running into the channels. He has a decent first touch under pressure and displays decent ball retention. Rossel can link up with teammates well, displaying glimpses of good one-touch passing and quick thinking under pressure. He also displays decent ball-carrying ability, being capable of turning away from his opponent too. Rossel showcases above average close control in tight spaces.

The Chilean striker consistently does well to pick out the right positions in the box by making good runs. Rossel displays quick handling speed in the box to get shots off or to put a cross into dangerous areas. He gets into scoring position very often, illustrating his good off-the-ball movement. Rossel occasionally is a bit unlucky with his finishing (both with his feet and heading) and missed a penalty in this tournament, but still managed to score 4 goals in 4 games. He also displays quick decision-making and good creativity under pressure, trying to play teammates through on goal but sometimes being unsuccessful.

Juan Francisco Rossel is, based on this tournament, an interesting striker to track for mid-table clubs in Denmark and Switzerland. He has a fairly interesting physical, technical and tactical profile while also working incredibly hard. Rossel has decent potential.

Rating: D – Potential to play for mid-level clubs outside the top five European leagues (e.g. Shakhtar Donetsk, Copenhagen, Basel, etc.).

Neyser Villarreal (Colombia)

• Position: Striker
• Club: Millonarios
• Date of birth: 24/04/2005

Neyser Villarreal is a 19-year-old attacker who plays for Millonarios and Colombia U-20. The striker made his debut for Millonarios in 2023, after he came through the youth academy of the Colombian side. He is yet to break through at Millonarios, having only made 11 appearances so far.

Standing at around 1.78 meters (and not the 1.86m Transfermarkt says) with an average build, Neyser Villarreal displays a good burst of speed and also good speed over longer distances. He has smooth changes of directions and looks quite athletic. He displays inconsistent strength on the ball, sometimes using his body efficiently to hold off his opponents but also getting pushed off the ball in certain situations. He displays good stamina and work-rate.

Playing mostly as a striker for Colombia U-20, Neyser Villarreal likes to roam around the pitch. He does not seem like a natural striker. The Colombian attacker likes to drop deep to support the build-up play, moving between the lines well and displaying good receiving skills under pressure. Villarreal sporadically has a sloppy touch and sometimes struggles to retain the ball under pressure due to his (occasional) lack of strength. The Colombian attacker displays decent ball control in tight spaces but loses control over the ball sometimes.

The 19-year-old Colombian displayed glimpses of good and quick decision-making under pressure, playing his teammates through on goal with well-timed through passes. This was especially the case in matches where Colombia were pushed back more and played more on the counter-attack. He turns away from his opponent quickly. Neyser Villarreal has good movement in the box. He strikes the ball well from distance but also from close range. Villarreal occasionally needed a bit too much time to get a shot off.

Neyser Villarreal, based on this tournament, looks like a player who should play as a striker in a two-striker formation or as an inside forward in a three-attacker formation. He has the potential to play for decent clubs in Denmark, Ukraine, Switzerland, etc.

Rating: D – Potential to play for mid-level clubs outside the top five European leagues (e.g. Shakhtar Donetsk, Copenhagen, Basel, etc.).