The press has spoken in recent days about the possibility that three teams from Europe are in Colombia with scouts to track down Andrés Llinás, Carlos Andrés Gómez and Daniel Ruiz. The youth of Gómez and Ruiz attracts a lot of attention in the old continent, but the big question is if it is the right time to release them.
Carlos Gómez, 20, and Daniel Ruiz, 21, are two of the biggest prospects in Colombian soccer, and they are at a favorable age, but we must not forget great cases of other Colombian players who jumped to Europe very young and They did not have the desired regularity, as is the case of Marlos Moreno who went to Manchester City, and was never able to penetrate the English club, passing on loan from other clubs in the five major leagues. The same could happen with Gomez and Ruiz.
Releasing them at the moment is not so viable, since the idea is that they have even more regularity. Testing them on a team where they probably won’t play would be dangerous, as they may not get the minutes they want. The more they inflate them, the less is the time for them to leave Colombia and the cases have been seen.
According to information, Daniel Ruiz’s scouts came from Portugal, England and Spain, precisely from Benfica, Manchester City and Barcelona respectively. Yes, something unthinkable especially that last club, but the Spanish press has already begun to put flat on the Bogota midfielder.
Fortunately, in the event that Daniel Ruiz arrived in Barcelona, the adaptation, although it would clearly be complex, could be supported by a youth who shines in the subsidiaries under the technical direction of an icon in the defense of the culé club, the Mexican, Rafael Marquez.
From Montería to Barcelona, Juan David Fuentes, a 19-year-old midfielder who also has Spanish nationality. He worries, because Colombia cannot miss out on that jewel that already had a place in the youth teams in the U-16 and U-17 with the coffee cast, but that the U-15 did with Spain. Faced with that replacement that Néstor Lorenzo is looking for in the future, he could be in the national team, and that is, although he can enjoy ‘La Roja’, Juan David’s desire is to wear the yellow jersey of the nation that saw him born.
Before making a hole in the Colombian National Team, he will be able to enjoy his first challenge with the national team if Héctor Cárdenas decides so in the South American U-20 of 2023. For this, it will be important that he has regularity in Barcelona B by Rafael Marquez. The Mexican has already used the player in the last three games, where he has excelled, so much so that he has already had contacts with the first team and with Xavi Hernández.
His desire is not only to play in the Colombian National Team, but to reach the Barcelona majors and consolidate himself in the club. And it is very good that he is leading it with a goal and an assist in the last games in which he acted as starter. It is not easy to penetrate a club as big as the Catalan one, and Juan David Fuentes wins the applause and everything to be promoted and take him little by little into the first team.
Xavi Hernández’s approaches to Juan David Fuentes’ environment were in one or another training session with the first team. Xavi has highlighted his evolution, his development and his performance. Daniel Ruiz would be a great competition, because surely if the Bogota player materializes, he will surely not see minutes with the first team, but they will take him calmly first in the affiliates where he will meet Fuentes.
Juan David Fuentes has been described as a right winger, he is left footed and likes to settle in to shoot with his good leg. He has a good punch, very technical on the wings. A few years ago, he commented that he would like to play in the Colombian National Team and in the Barcelona first team. They have taken him little by little, he has already had experience in international competitions such as the UEFA Youth League.
About Daniel Ruiz, a rumor that came out, but that the same Spanish press has maintained. Ruiz could be a teammate of Juan David Fuentes, and although the Bogotano is older than the Monteriano, Fuentes would be a good teacher for the current Millonarios player to adapt well.