Humberto Suazo: Sunderland & Everton Compete for £5M Chilean Scoring Sensation

Reports in Mexico and South America suggest a number of Premier League clubs have made moves to sign one of the most consistent scorers in world football over the past 5 seasons…the Chilean striker Humberto Suazo.

Newcastle and Tottenham have been strongly linked in the past but Sunderland manager Steve Bruce is the latest to show an interest as he looks to exploit his reputation for picking up bargain buys. However, a player of Suazo’s reputation should surely be of interest to a number of English Premier League clubs who are also chasing new strikers.

The 28-year-old currently plies his trade for Mexican side Monterrey but looks set to leave the club this summer as interest grows around Europe. He endured a torrid start to his career with the Mexican outfit due to conflicts both with his team-mates and coaching staff after arriving for $8m from Chilean club Colo-Colo in 2007. However, 6 months and just 3 goals later the striker called a press conference where he acknowledged his poor form and attitude as well as his intention to knuckle down at the club.

Suazo returned in blistering form, scoring 16 goals in his next 19 appearances. This scoring streak included a hat-trick against UAG and 4 goals against Veracruz in a 7-2 win. That 4-goal haul also equalled the club record held by Milton Carlos. Last season he was not as prolific with 13 goals in 30 League appearances (29 starts) though this could be explained by the fact he was unsettled with Galatasaray, Marseille and Newcastle strongly expected to sign him last summer.

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Humberto Andres Suazo Pontivo was born in San Antonio in 1981 and is often known as ‘Chupete’. He began his career with Universidad Catolica before being loaned out to second division side Nublense where he scored his first professional goal. However, a 7-month spell on the sidelines after fracturing his fibula hampered his fledgling career and meant he missed the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championships.

Suazo began to turn heads two clubs later when in 2003 he scored 40 goals for Chilean third division side San Luis Quillota. He then joined Audax Italiano where he continued his impressive scoring streak despite another major injury. The striker’s next move was to Colo-Colo where he scored an incredible 38 goals in 44 League games and won two Apertura (opening) and 1 Clausura (closing) titles. His performances for the club attracted the attention of a number of clubs including Santos Laguna of Mexico and the Italian side Catania. However, he finally clinched a big money move to Monterrey in 2007.

The striker has won his fair share of individual accolades too including being awarded the World’s Top Scorer of 2006 by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics in Salzburg, Austria. He was also awarded the Silver Football for scoring the 2nd highest amount of top division goals in world football. He came 2nd to Klaas Jan Huntelaar (35 goals) after scoring 34 League goals for Colo-Colo. Suazo also finished top scorer in Chile’s Apertura season in 2006 and 2007 as well as top Clausura scorer in Mexico in 2008 plus 2006 Copa Sudamericana.

Chupete is a permanent fixture in the Chilean national side and has scored 13 goals in 37 internationals. This includes a goal in Chile’s 2-0 win in Peru earlier this month. Despite his relatively small stature (5 ft 7), Suazo is in the Wayne Rooney mould when it comes to physique as defenders seem to bounce off him whilst his sharp acceleration and shooting ability are his main strengths.

Galatasaray may well re-enter the chase for the exciting striker but don’t be surprised if he finally makes a move this summer possibly in an initial loan deal. Sunderland lead the chase for the former Newcastle target although David Moyes is thought to be a keen admirer and may make his move if a deal to sign Michael Owen collapses. Take note Premier League clubs, this man from Chile is hot stuff!

Check out the vids of the player in action and let us know what you think about the highly-rated South American. Do you think he’d be worth a gamble or would you be wary of signing this Chilean star? Let’s hear your views.

Tags: chile, Everton, Humberto Suazo, Monterrey, Sunderland

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