Nahuel Herrera is a 20-year-old center back who currently plays for Peñarol. He came up through Peñarol’s academy, where he ended up making his debut in March 2023. Despite his age, Herrera has cemented himself as a first-team regular. He was also part of the Peñarol squad, which won the 2024 Uruguayan championship.
He stands at 1.86 m (6’2”). He possesses a muscular build with broad shoulders and long, powerful legs. He displays decent pace both over short and longer distances. His recovery pace is decent, especially for a guy his size. His long strides when sprinting help him keep up with quicker attackers. His long legs enable him to reach out effectively in 1v1 duels, making tackles, or deflecting passes. Herrera’s strength is very noticeable both in his physique and in his play. He is physically imposing in duels, especially in aerial ones. He generates a lot of power in his vertical leap when challenging for aerial duels, towering over his opponents. Herrera displays good intelligence when using his body, knowing how to adjust himself to use his body as a shield to protect the ball or hold off attackers. Combining this with his strength makes it challenging to outmuscle him in shoulder-to-shoulder duels. He maintains his balance and can knock the ball away from opponents when they try to back into him or hold the ball up against him. It is common for him to get to the ball first or poke the ball away in these situations.
When in possession, Herrera mainly focuses on keeping it simple. He usually does not hold onto the ball for long periods, playing a sideways pass to his center back or a short pass to his nearest teammate. If pressed, he usually plays it long immediately or clears it to avoid any danger. When pressed, his touches and passes can seem rushed on occasion. However, when playing against teams that do not press as high or press at all, he looks much calmer, capable of playing high-quality passes or line-breaking balls. He has a decent long-range passing technique, which is not always consistent, but is capable of producing dangerous chances for teammates. He is capable of playing passes with both feet; however, he prefers to use his right if possible. Overall, it is a definite area where Herrera will need to improve, but he has shown signs of potential.
Herrera typically features in a back four, where he has been deployed in both left and right center-back roles with a fairly even split between the two sides. His off-ball intelligence and positioning are very strong, showing good anticipation to read the game effectively and knowing where to position himself to protect his box and engage in duels. His reading of the trajectory of balls in the air is typically strong, allowing him to adjust his body shape effectively in preparation for duels. There are moments when he misreads the flight or bounce of the ball, particularly when overly focused on his opponent rather than the ball, though this is rare. Herrera uses his arms to feel for opposing forwards, maintaining constant spatial awareness. Inside the box, he positions himself well to be ready to step up to block shots or get on the end of crosses or loose balls. When engaging in duels, Herrera can be pretty aggressive. The majority of his challenges are well timed, though there have been occasions where he will end up committing too early, leaving the space behind him exposed. When his team regains possession, he has shown at times composure and confidence to carry the ball forward into midfield, helping his team progress play from the back.
Overall, Herrera’s combination of defensive and physical qualities makes him a promising center back prospect. His reading of the game and dominance in duels stand out, especially for a player his age in his position. He will have to improve in possession if he were to play at a higher level, but he has shown flashes and signs of growth. Herrera could be a good fit for a team in Portugal, La Liga, or Serie A.
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