This morning’s papers are awash with talk of Luis
Antonio Valencia’s imminent arrival at Old Trafford.
Okay, so he’s not of Kaka, Ribery or Benzema
proportions, but his acquisition, if indeed the press are correct
and United beat off competition for the Ecuadorian’s signature,
could well prove to be yet another managerial masterstroke by Sir
Alex.
A lot of fans are crying out for big-name signings, especially with
Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez heading elsewhere, but surely
the £80million United will receive from Real Madrid for the
Portuguese is better spent on a couple of burgeoning talents than
one over-priced “galactico”.
In fact, United rarely plump for established superstars (Berbatov
was the exception in recent years), instead preferring to cast the
net at an earlier age. It’s a tactic that’s so often reaped
benefits for the club, largely because younger players find it
easier to adapt to a new playing style and are eager to soak up the
experience from United’s older heads. Stop for a minute and just
imagine what an impressionable young winger could learn from Ryan
Giggs.
A player at the beginning of his career is also less likely to feel
the weight of expectation or be hounded by a fickle media demanding
instant success. That leaves him free to express himself on the
pitch and enjoy his football.
Of course, Valencia is no naive newcomer. For the past two seasons
he’s consistently been Wigan Athletic’s best performer. Fans at the
JJB Stadium have grown accustomed to watching the skilful
Ecuadorian tear down the wing and whip dangerous crosses into the
opposition penalty area. United fans will hold similar memories
from his outstanding performance here at Old Trafford in January
when he terrorised the Reds’ defence in an awesome second-half
display. He’s not work-shy either: Valencia tracks back unselfishly
and isn’t afraid of getting stuck into a tackle.
And remember, he also possesses something the likes of Ribery and
Benzema don’t: experience in England. Not all players adapt to life
in the Premier League – and, to be fair, Valencia hardly wowed
Wigan fans when he first arrived on loan from Villarreal in 2006 –
but the youngster has now well and truly settled and understands
the rigours and intricacies of the English game.
That’s all very well, but can he handle life at Old Trafford?
Standing out in the crowd at Wigan, you might say, doesn’t exactly
equate to setting the world on fire at the Theatre of Dreams.
I agree: it doesn’t. But in June 2006, with the eyes of the
footballing world fixed upon a little tournament in Germany called
the World Cup, Valencia shone at just 20 years of age, helping
Ecuador qualify for the second phase of the finals for the first
time in their history. His performances were also noted by astute
fans and at one point he was the overwhelming favourite – ahead of
even Ronaldo and Lionel Messi – to pick up the prestigious Best
Young Player award. (The honour eventually went to Germany’s Lukas
Podolski.)
At the time, Valencia's national team coach, Luis Suarez, said:
“He's doing very well right now, but he has an even more exciting
future ahead of him.”
A future that includes a move to Manchester United? I, for one,
sincerely hope so.