The 21-year-old has only been with Roma since July, but the bigger clubs are already circling. Outside90’s Daniel Gartner takes a closer look at Argentina’s newest wonderkid.
Being called ‘the next Messi’ can often prove a burden on many young footballers, but AS Roma winger Juan Manuel Iturbe shares more similarities with the Barcelona legend than most. The 21-year-old has recently attracted the interest of Premier League giants Arsenal and Liverpool, despite enduring a fairly average debut season in Serie A. Iturbe’s extraordinary potential is evident, but since his big money move from Hellas Verona he has suffered injury woes and until recently struggled to make Rudi Garcia’s starting line-up. With Arsenal and Liverpool reportedly willing to cough up €22 million for the young attacker, what exactly would the two clubs be getting for their money?
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Despite being born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and later pledging his allegiance to the Albiceleste, the man affectionately known as ‘Iturbo’ or ‘La Pulguita’ actually grew up in Paraguay, and was part of Los Guarani’s international setup from a young age. Iturbe made his senior debut for Paraguay at the tender age of just 16 in a friendly against Chile, but because the match wasn’t competitive, the youngster could still change international allegiance later in his career. Iturbe burst onto the scene in the Paraguayan Primera Division with Asunción side Cerro Porteño, a club with a reputation as one of the best breeding grounds for talent in South American football. Iturbe spent two years in El Ciclón’s youth setup before making his league debut in 2009, but it would be on the international stage where he would announce himself to the world.
Despite representing Paraguay’s U17, U20 and senior sides, Iturbe would later fall out with the coaching staff and pledge his allegiance to Argentina. The diminutive winger would represent the Albiceleste’s infamous U20s from 2010 to 2013, and it was his phenomenal goal against Chile’s U20s in 2011 where he showed himself as a future world-beater. Iturbe collected the ball on the halfway line and used his incredible pace to blast through the defence before slotting the ball home from close range. It was a goal eerily reminiscent of Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi’s greatest solo efforts. Although not entirely the same sort of player, Iturbe’s diminutive stature, electrifying dribbling ability, incredible agility, strength on the ball and a ferocious left foot shot immediately draw comparisons with Argentina’s two greatest number 10s. And then there is his speed. The former Albiceleste U20 winger’s pace and acceleration is jaw-dropping, and his ability blaze past a full-back on the flank is truly a sight to behold.
Unfortunately for Iturbe, a move from Cerro Porteño to renowned talent-nurturers and two-time European champions FC Porto in 2010 turned out to be a stalling moment in his career. In three years at Porto, the Argentine only managed six league appearances for the first team and spent more playing time with Porto’s reserves. The turning point in Iturbe’s club career would come when he moved to Argentinian giants River Plate on a six-month loan at the beginning of 2013. La Pulguita starred alongside the likes of Manuel Lanzini at River and netted three times in 15 league appearances. With the Iturbe’s confidence now restored after a spell in Buenos Aires, newly-promoted Serie A side Hellas Verona snapped up the young Argentinean on a season-long loan in the summer of 2013.
The 2013-14 season would see Iturbe establish himself as one of the most exciting young wingers in Europe as the Gialloblu marked their return to Italy’s top flight by finishing in an impressive tenth place. Iturbe scored his first Serie A goal in late September against lowly Livorno, netting a stunning free-kick. The Argentine scored eight times in 33 appearances, with his stunning solo goal against Cagliari and a 25-yard scorcher against Fiorentina the highlights. Hellas purchased Iturbe outright from Porto at season’s end, but an immediate bidding war between Roma and Juventus saw him move to the Italian capital in a deal believed to be around €22 million.
The 21-year-old arrived at Roma under immediate pressure to justify his enormous price tag, and thus far he is yet to truly prove himself. Iturbe’s only Serie A goal thus far came against champions Juventus in October in a 3-2 loss, and despite occasional moments of brilliance he is yet to consistently perform at a high standard. The Argentine’s potential is there for all to see, but some say he needs a move elsewhere to truly flourish.
Whether that move is to Arsenal or Liverpool remains to be seen, but there is no doubt that signing Iturbe is a sizeable gamble. His transfer would represent the capture of one of the most promising young stars in world football but a deal worth €22 million is nothing to rush into. Iturbe’s direct style of play would undoubtedly suit the Premier League, but regardless of where he ends up, there is little doubt that you’ll be hearing the name Juan Manuel Iturbe a lot more in the future.
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