Matias De Federico: Spurs Use Zokora Funds to Sign the Dazzling ‘New Messi’
Tottenham are reportedly preparing a bid for the Argentinian starlet Matias De Federico who has been labelled the ‘new Lionel Messi’ in his homeland after a starring role in Huracan’s surprise Clausura league title win.
Armed with the cash from the sale of Didier Zokora, Harry Redknapp according to reports in Argentina is set to swoop for the left winger after missing out on both Arjen Robben and Ashley Young. Stewart Downing’s long-term injury has meant Spurs have widened their search to fill the troublesome left-wing slot.
The starlet’s incredible form last season led to a call-up by Argentina coach Diego Maradona who gave the 20-year-old his debut in a 3-1 win over Panama back in May in which De Federico scored.
De Federico was born in Buenos Aires and his comparisons with Messi are obvious due to 5 ft 7 stature and excellent ability to dribble. The Huracan star established himself as a top player last season, making 20 league appearances (19 starts) and scoring 6 goals in both the Apertura (Opening) and Clausura (Closing) championships. Previous to this, De Federico had started just one league game and made 14 substitute league appearances. However, as Huracan took the Clausura title, De Federico and his young team-mate Javier Pastore received many plaudits. Pastore was a target for Manchester United last season but he is about to be unveiled as a Palermo player with De Federico next to depart.
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Liverpool were thought to be leading the chase for the talented youngster but Spurs have now made their move and are likely to raise the necessary funds quicker than the Reds through player sales. Both clubs will have been encouraged by recent quotes from the winger, “I like to watch the English Premier League, it is very fast and I think that it would suit my speed well.”
The Argentine starlet can play on either flank like Messi but is predominantly left-footed. He has the ability to beat a man whether cutting inside or going down the flank so would provide Spurs with a pair of small exciting wingers alongside Aaron Lennon.
Huracan rejected a bid from Brazilian side Botafago last season but Tottenham should have the finances to sign the youngster to follow in the footsteps of fellow Argentines Ricky Villa and Ossie Ardiles at White Hart Lane.
Do Tottenham need a player like De Federico who is renowned for his pace and crossing ability? Should Harry Redknapp look to sign a finished product rather than an exciting young talent? Let’s hear your views.
Tags: Argentina, Huracan, Javier Pastore, Liverpool, Manchester United, Matias De Federico, Tottenham
July 9th, 2009 at 10:19
Oh my… another light-weight, skill-laden midfielder. Lovely skills on the video clip against frankly rubbish opposition. While I hope i’m wrong, my feeling is this could be another Dos Santos. Why do we do it??!
July 9th, 2009 at 10:22
sign him to replate taarabt cus hes basicly gone. let him and dos santos battle it out for the left wing and see what happens. both could potentially be superstars.
July 9th, 2009 at 10:25
LOOKS GOOD HOPE WE GET THERE BEFORE LIVERSCUM AND IF HE WAS THAT GOOD WHY AINT MANURE BOUGHT HIM OR CHEALSKI BUT HOPE WE DO GET HIM
July 9th, 2009 at 10:29
Are these rumours, or is this a true story? I have seen this lad a couple of times and this lad is quality, but this player is not the type of player Redknapp would like. Redknapp only likes big, unskillful and boring players like Palacios. But anyway I hope Spurs snap him up.
July 9th, 2009 at 10:36
good grief this child looks good!! don’t care if that means we’ve got the 2 smallest wingers in the PL. have a feeling HR is looking at a 3-5-2/4-5-1 with LMod in front of Pally and another def mid.
July 9th, 2009 at 11:34
Bye first Lorik Cana cuz Tottenham need another DM and than go and bye him if he cost 5 milon euro.
Tottenham needs a good striker thought!
Non of Strikers that we got are good enough.
So please buy a player of Henrry type.
July 9th, 2009 at 12:10
Kid looks good but i seriously wonder why these promising youngsters sign for us weve ruined so many careers of ’starlets’ its untrue. If we actually give the kid a game then he and Lennon could be awesome, but like someone said earlier, it could just end up like another Gio/Taarabt with the guy not even getting on the bench and eventually resold a few years later after playing maybe 2-3 games (if theyre lucky)
July 9th, 2009 at 12:15
also agreed with TK the current first team has to be the most un spurs-like ever. Whats the point of defending like a brick wall if youve not got enough flair and attacking ability to score?
July 9th, 2009 at 15:58
wasnt dos santos supposed to be the new ronaldinho? and taarabt was supposed to be the new zidane? they didnt work out to well and now we’re going for the new messi, can see it going the same way
July 9th, 2009 at 16:16
This is a pointless endeavour, players of his type will never play for Spurs regardless of how much talent, skill and ability he may have. We are not a club that nurtures talent from a young age whether they came through our academy of if they are bought. I wish we were, or at least took a chance on such players. I have a feeling that by buying these young flair players and doing nothing with them, we hinder them in the long run. Messi has done so well at Barcelona because they nurtured him and took a chance which has paid off royally.
July 9th, 2009 at 16:16
Spurs must sign this lad if they have an ambition left. This guy looks the finished article to me although ive only seen these clip however this is the best player that Spurs are linked with, Look at his balance and grace this is what we need at the lane we dont care if we dont win the league we just wanna play with style and fastion in other words “sexy football” come on “arry” this is the guy we want.
July 9th, 2009 at 18:17
go to spurs n ruin your career boy. you have been warned
July 9th, 2009 at 19:25
Cant see this guy, Modric and Lennon all in midfield!. Ossie Ardiles’s famous five ring any bells? Imagine bringing this midfield up to the Britannia, Ewood or Goodison, we wouldnt have a prayer, far too much would be expected of Wilson. As much as I like watching skillfull attacking players we must be realistic!
July 9th, 2009 at 21:59
How can we hope to compete with the top 4 if we never buy top 4 players? I guess this is just one of those agents wheezes where they get their players name linked with a move to a Premiership side in the hope of it stirring up some interest somewhere. Nonsense really. joe Cole, Ashley Young, Huntellar. Any one of thise would do - but they’ll never join us - So it’s back to the mediocre wilderness and the hope of winning micky mouse trophies for us then.
July 9th, 2009 at 22:09
The guy does look quality and probably could do the job, but the team is riddled with small skillful players. We need some height in the team. The only way I can see us balancing the squad with a player like him would be to have him and lennon on either wing with Palcios and Jenas in the middle , but where would that leave Modric? There is no way he should be left out of the side. How many midfield balls would be lost because players are either going to be easily pushed off the ball or beaten in the air? Is Bale such a bad option for the left flank? He seems to have done the job well every time he’s played there. But with no target man you can’t expect any winger to play well.
July 10th, 2009 at 19:48
Casa, Bastos and Huntelaar. Enough said. Get these three and we’ll put the fear a god into the so called big boys.
November 17th, 2009 at 21:08
if liverpool and tottenham come to sign him hes got two choices
either come to a club who are on of the greatest CL winners of all time or go to a club like tottenham. A SQUIRREL HAS HAD MORE CL EXPERINCE THAN TOTTENHAM ! haha
tough choice mate