lamela

_____________________________________________________________________
:: SOCCER STAR, ONLY 12, CAUSING STIR IN ARGENTINA AND SPAIN

BUENOS AIRES: Like many junior Argentine players, Erik Lamela idolizes Diego Maradona. Like
Maradona, he also favours his left foot when attacking the net and can even mimic Maradona?s flashy
antics of dribbling the ball endlessly in the air.

Like Maradona, Lamela is also being noticed early on. Only 12, Lamela is already one of the top
players in the junior leagues with Buenos Aires powerhouse River Plate. He is comfortable in the
center midfield but can also play wing versatility the talent scouts picked up on early. Now FC
Barcelona has expressed an interest in Lamela, creating a stir in Argentina. Local media reported on
Friday that supporters and critics are debating whether it?s too early to send a budding ace abroad.

A Barcelona press officer, who asked not to be identified, confirmed the club?s interest. Lamela
caught the eye of the Spanish scouts this year during junior competitions in Spain and France. But the
source said Lamela?s family would need to move to Barcelona to receive a study and sports grant
that could help him make a pool of Spanish club players seeking stardom. Argentine media reported
Lamela could receive up to $148,000 annually in Barcelona. The Catalan club had no confirmation of
those reports and the boy?s family did not comment further.

But Lamela?s father, Jose, speaking with Argentine network TodoNoticias, said the family was
studying a move seriously, and traveled to Spain last month to check things out. ?The offer is very
interesting,? Jose told a television reporter. The parents said they and their four sons were ready to
move if the offer works out. But River Plate wants Erik Lamela to stay at home for now. ?We will
oppose this,? said River president Jose Maria Aguilar, who vehemently rejects the idea of sending
Lamela abroad at his age. While River could try to legally block any move, such transfers have
happened before. An 11-year-old, Leandro Depetris, left the juniors of Argentine club Union de Santa
Fe for Italy?s Milan, in 2001.

Depetris later returned to Argentina, and was playing with the River organisation. In Barcelona?s first
division, meanwhile, a 17-year-old former Argentine junior star, Lionel Messi, was playing alongside
greats such as Brazilian Ronaldinho. Barcelona took Messi when he was only 13 from Argentine side
Newell?s Old Boys. According to Madrid sports daily Marca, Erik?s talents were spotted early. ?Erik
arrived at one of the popular clubs in Argentina River Plate when seven years old,? noted Marca.

But Barcelona?s talent scouts, though alerted early, would have to wait until he reached the legal
working age before he could be formally signed. Meanwhile, when Argentine television talked to his
family, Erik Lamela showed off his talent by keeping the ball floating in the air, dribbling it off his feet
and knees without letting it drop. Maradona performed similar stunts during halftime exhibitions as a
teenager. ?Playing in Barcelona is a great dream,? said the 90-pound (41-kilogram) kid with flowing
blond hair. ?I have other dreams, too, to play like Maradona and to play on the Argentine national
team,? added Lamela, who stands a mere five feet (1.53 meters). Ironically, while he plays for River
Plate, Lamela said he was an avowed fan of River?s crosstown archrival Boca Juniors, where
Maradona had some of his greatest playing days.

<<<BACK