This is SO important for the future of the NT given the position he plays and our struggle to find a good balance there... If the Germans school him well on tactics... 🚨 Gustavo Puerta (19) llegó a un acuerdo verbal para convertirse en nuevo jugador del #BayerLeverkusen, como contó @cesaralo. Tendrá contrato hasta junio de 2027; #BogotáFC lo vende por 2M€ 🇨🇴🔜🇩🇪👀 Emisarios alemanes viajan a Colombia para exámenes médicos y firmas pic.twitter.com/h9y0sbJbTx— Pipe Sierra (@PSierraR) January 27, 2023
Awesome for the player and the club. Glad he going to Germany than the club screwing him for more money and sending him to the MLS
I knew this kid would get a move the very first time I saw him play a couple summers ago. I like Leverkusen for a few reasons: 1) they actually spread minutes to their large roster, including young signees, 2) there's competition to start his position, but none are stars, 3) He'll be coached by Xabi Alonso. Don't think there's any coach in the world more likely to see the kid's value and potential.
I hadn't even thought about XA! Wow. Great point. Of course, I remember thinking "who could possibly understand James better than Zidane?" And that didn't end well.
This is just what we need, the profile and position and already going to Germany in a good system. Fingers crossed he can jump to the NT soon because we need midfielders desperately.
There's not a doubt in my mind Puerta is already the best CM Colombia has. The same way I was sure James was the best LM Colombia had once he started playing for Banfield. Lorenzo is the kinda guy who would bring him in soon...if he's playing. Castilla needs more time, but I do like him. Cap-tying him seems worth it. BTW, does remember Juan Toja? Kid reminds me of him so much.
A lot slow but very talented. With a bit more pace, Toja could have had a great career given his skill and vision.
Lorenzo already had him in a microciclo last year where everyone got surprised why a player from the second division was called up... so we can expect to see him soon playing with the big guys
Not me. I praised it But all that really tells us is that Puerta is on the radar. Most of those microciclo guys did not make the callup for the USA friendly, for example. It's just Chunga, Santi Moreno, and Juan David Mosquera. Ruiz and Castano are the only people called from the earlier microciclo. I respect Lorenzo and I think he will recognize the talent. It just remains to be seen how much value he places on playing time, which may become an issue for Puerta now that he's headed to Europe. Especially once the qualifiers start... Personally, I hope he gets called to every single squad going forward, kind of like what Pekerman did with Quintero and Borre.
Toja was a great player. It's a shame he had so many issues with injuries. Puerta reminds me of Lampard to be honest, incredible range of passing, great control of the ball, incredible stamina and above all, fearless. He has everything that's needed to succeed in Europe, as long as he's not a shithead he'll have a long and successful career.
I think that's what he's got to do with Asprilla and Puerta at the start. Both are so important and they need to keep the mentality that they are important (and then they have to work to keep at it).
If nothing else, this move to hopefully stall the de be development of the Jorge Bolanos mullet he is threatening to grow out there the way he's rocking that bowl cut...
Excited to see this guy blossom. At 5'7" he does seem fairly small. You can't really notice it against U20s but against some of those Bundesliga monsters, that's a whole other game.
like Sebastian Perez then, that would be perfect. Definitely don't need to be tall then, doesn't necessarily need to be bulky either like Lucas Torreira who's the same height.
Puerta will be playing in the Bundesliga 2 for FC Nürnberg https://www.fussballtransfers.com/a...n-holt-puerta-und-verleiht-ihn-nach-nuernberg
looks like they have struggled all year, bottom 1/3 of the table. But that may work in not putting too much pressure too soon.