Boca Junior's Barcelona target Sergio Araujo brings to mind a young Diego Forlan
For the vast majority of the football world, Wednesday night's Argentine reserve clash between Boca Juniors and Independiente would have passed completely unnoticed; but for one player at least there was extra incentive to shine. Sergio Araujo of Boca knew that Barcelona 'super-scout' Albert Valentin was in attendance to see what he could do on the field, even though bitter rivals have a first option on the 19-year-old.
Barely 19 and yet to stake a claim for a regular place in the Xeneixe first team, yet in the sights of two of the world's biggest football institutions: is this youngster the real deal? Goal..com takes a closer look at the promising striker...
So what’s his record like?
So far, he can boast 8 goals in 24 career appearances. At first glance, a 1 in 3 scoring record isn’t bad but he’s actually better than that. Of those games, he’s got one goal in nine games for Boca, but you can forgive him given he only started three of those. His real goal-scoring exploits have come at youth levels, both for Boca and at international youth level. Barcelona watched him in the reserves last night but he was a peripheral figure as Independiente won 1-0, Cristian Báez with the decisive strike.
Who does he play like?
It’s hard to compare him to anyone really, he is six foot tall and of normal build. His real strength is his quick feet, he will pull a trick to get a yard on a defender and then shoot. He is more likely to create a goal from nothing than be a poacher-style centre-forward. He has the potential to become a similar sort of player to Diego Forlan, assured on the ball and with an unerring eye for goal- but there are no further obvious comparisons.
This spring he played in the prodigious Bellinzona tournament in Switzerland against some of the best youth sides in the world and clearly impressed the hordes of onlooking scouts. His success in the Under-17 tournaments he has played at international level will have first alerted European scouts.
So why hasn’t he featured much this season?
A good question. He had a disappointing tournament in the South American Under-20 Championships at the start of 2011, but then again so did Argentina, finishing third behind neighbours Brazil and Uruguay. New Boca manager Julio Cesar Falcioni has only used him on one occasion, as a sub whilst 2-0 down at home to Olimpo, preferring the ever-willing but never-scoring Pablo Mouche.
Are there any doubts over his ability?
He’s certainly shown buckets of ability when given the chance, but players that have shone on the Under-17 circuit have sometimes failed to convert that promise into a real career; Brazillians Lulinha and Kerlon spring to mind from recent years. He’s shown enough promise to convince Real Madrid to purchase a first option on him a few years back though.
And what does he have to say about everything?
He’s not huge on media, but of the Madrid situation he said "It is true that they have that option and I'm flattered, but first I want to show with Boca that I have the ability to play for Madrid." He’s a big family man and after his first ever Boca goal vs Arsenal de Sarandí he said “I would like to dedicate it to my parents, who always support me. Poor them, they didn’t come to the stadium, because when they don’t watch me play, I score goals.”
Perhaps Sergio and Boca Juniors will be hoping that his parents stay well away from La Bombonera in the future.