Juan Agudelo is just 18 years old, and has one professional goal to his credit, but he has already shown enough to have foreign clubs keeping tabs on him.
According to Spanish publication Marca, Atletico Madrid is one of those clubs.
A key Atletico Madrid official attended the Philadelphia Union-New York Red Bulls match, but it should also be noted that the official is in the United States in search of new strategic alliances for the Spanish club.
The report suggests Atletico has been tracking Agudelo for some time.
Would the New York Red Bulls sell Agudelo? Don't bet on it. While New York might find it impossible to turn down a large transfer offer for Agudelo, the Red Bulls need Agudelo with Henry struggling with his health. Also, you have to wonder how much Atletico would be willing to pay for a young player with such a sparse resume.
What do you think of this development? Like the idea of Agudelo already drawing interest from big European clubs? Hoping he makes a move soon, or hoping he gets the chance to develop?
Share your thoughts below.
The kid is 18 and from an immigrant family. $60-$100k is nice, but $600k-$1 million, he could really make a difference for himself and his family. I’m sure he’s playing for the fun of the game. So tell me how much is Henry (his mentor) making again?
EuroSnob?
These opinions are great, but there isn’t much evidence that proves his remaining in MLS will benefit American soccer. In fact, the system in it’s current state hasn’t worked at all to groom internationally successful strikers. Buddle and Findley are both examples of high quality MLS strikers being average at best for USMNT.
If you look at other countries, their best players go to Europe to grow their skills. The only problem with the US exports thus far is that we haven’t sent enough quality. But to not send a player is absurd. If he’s really an up-and-comer, his team would be stupid to send him to the reserves.
The best players for the current USMNT have all had European experience, except for Agudelo.
You’re right, I forgot how much it helped Robbie Findley for the USMNT to stay in MLS.
Not to rain on parades, but “La Marca” is the type of paper that, if they saw Louis van Gaal looking at a Spice Girl pinup, would run full page headlines the next day about Beckham’s imminent move to Bayern Munich (ok, dated – should use different coach)…They’re a 20-30pp daily. They’ll stretch anything into a story
I strongly believe that Europeans are trying to get all of our young guns with serious talents and bench them overseas so that the U.S development process slows down. They know sooner of later the U.S will become a powerhouse in the futbol world therefore they must bring us down as much as they can. It’s my story and I will stick to it! 😉
On a serious note. I would rather see him play a couple of full seasons in the MLS, although training at Madrid wouldn’t be such a bad idea. Sooner or later there has to be a first young under 20 American to make an impact in Europe, why not start with Agudelo… he has tools to become that first player.
It all depends on the team and there playing style.
It’s true that more teams in the EPL play direct long balls, but then look at Arsenal, Liverpool (under Dalglish), Blackpool and others all play a very possession based game where they pass the ball around on the floor and will look for through balls. On the other hand, there are a lot of teams in Spain that don’t play the “typical spanish way” like Deportivo and Athletic Bilbao, who both can play very direct long balls. As for France, it is closer to the English game than any other league in its pace and toughness ,which is why you often see French based players do well in England.
So basically, if Juan can find the perfect fit in a team that plays the game in a way that suits him and he can get playing time, then it could benefit him to move now, but if he just goes straight to a big team and sits on the bench, then it could hinder his development.
Terrible news. The thing that most people don’t get is that European soccer for young talent is a factory. Every big club cycles in a bunch of kids….all of them like Agudelo. And then it spits most of them out and keeps 1 or 2.
He should stay in MLS for another 2-3 years. Score a lot of goals (which for a goal scorer–scoring matters most…it breeds confidence that you can score rather than hope you can score). He’ll have other times he can move overseas or move to a big club. Right now, he’d be just one of 10 promising youngsters that would be signed by any major club in any given year.
Red Bulls will keep him at least through this season. If he starts scoring it makes his transfer fee price increase. They could sell him to Athletico but I don’t think they would get the amount they could if he actually showed worth. To few games to determine if he’ll have a high price tag.
I know *most* of us MLS fans are ones to say “Stay and develop in the MLS. Too Young. Don’t be Altidore/Adu”.
But when you think about it, all big European stars have been playing in Europe their whole lives, at youth levels, reserves… whatever it may be.
What’s so great about the MLS in development that a top league in Europe can’t help develop? if anything it should make the player better to play with the best.
I think it comes down to the individual as a person, if they can handle being away from home and all that. Because I can’t see how an 18 year old MAN needs more MLS development. There’s players that age being succesful in the EPL.
Yeah, I hold the same sentiment. He’s super young, it makes sense for him to keep starting regularly in MLS and learning from Henry. Soak up as much as possible for the next year or two and then make your move. Still a young and growing talent, but ready to get some real time abroad.
Yeah, Forlan is as good as gone. No way to guess what Atletico will do with Kun; could sell him or keep him in Forlan’s absence…
“If he leaves for Europe when he’s 22-23 years old he’ll be entering his prime, thus creating more opportunity for playing time.”
Well 23 is not young by european standards. And he would have proved himself only in a minor league (unless he tears it up at the 2014 World Cup). If he is as good as everyone hopes he will be then he may well move a lot sooner than 3-5 years from now. By then he may have lost potentially millions of dollars if he stays.
All logic and reason tells us he will sit. Two veteran strikers, and with a team that has European aspirations? They wont be too keen on replacing the old gaurd with an untested 18 year old with half a MLS season under his belt. Even if they sell Aguero or Forlan, I can see them bringing in other, more battle tested strikers as well as Agudelo which is serious competition.
That’s before we get to the current track record of MLS strikers going to Europe before they turn 20…
He’s an adult.
Christiano Ronaldo was “only” 18 when Man U signed him.
Agudelo may well have an easier time adapting to the culture in Spain which may have been an issue for Jozy. Moving to Europe at a young age did not hurt Gooch, Bradley, Rossi, or John Obrien.
Every player is different.
The main problem with this is not moving abroad, it’s that Atletico is maybe not the best place; perhaps he needs a better destination.
If America wants a world class striker, guys like Agudelo are most likely going to have to move to Europe.
It’s not about money for everyone.
I think it would best for Juan to stay in the MLS for another 3-5 years. If he leaves for Europe when he’s 22-23 years old he’ll be entering his prime, thus creating more opportunity for playing time. IMO there is nothing worst then having young promising talent and being placed to rot on the bench or bounced around from team to team. ie JOzy and Adu. In the mean time if Juan’s talents continue to grow he should consider negotiating his future contract with the Redbulls for a better pay day.
Does anyone think that maybe playing in the MLS might be stunting his growth. I say get him over there fast and let him grow there. He won’t sit. He will get his chances. Especially with the money they will have to pay for him.
Lol Marca does this all the time just so its site gets hits. The athletico fans dont really care about Agudelo they just want the general manager to quit.
By the way athletico is not a good organization.
agreed.. he is in a pretty good place as is! starting at his home town club surrounded by experienced internationals and up and coming US players.
He speaks fluent Spanish. Puro acento colombiano. I’ve heard him interviewed on the Solo Futbol radio program and pre-game of RBNY spanish language broadcasts.
stench Eurosnob supporter of the US Mint?
Knew a Eurosnob would come out
Folan for Agudelo..Straight up!
Please, Juan, stay just another year or two.
RBNY should demand $10 million, plus (just to give the appearance of seriousness) a demand that the letter “e” be stricken from the English language.
(The last reference definitely shows my age . . .)
I know and it was six figures. I would have told my son to take it especially if he had the potential to be one of the worlds greatest.
hernandez was purchased (contracts signed) before the 2010 world cup. he joined ManU after the cup and has been with them for less than 1 year.
hernandez qas purchased before the 2010 world cup. he has been with ManU for less than 1 year.
If Agudelo followed in Donovan’s role, then he’d already be in Europe. Donovan signed with Bayer Leverkusen as a 17 year old. He’s had 4 stints abroad.
As for your reference to basketball, baseball, or football and players playing abroad…seriously! If you want to play in the best leagues with the best players the MLS is not it.
Juan Agudelo should stay and follow the role of Landon Donovan. Major League Soccer needs to establish its players and become a competitive league, in which MLS attracts the top young talent in the world. For example, you do not see any young prospects in basketball, baseball, or football leaving to play abroad.
Don’t forget to factor 2014 into the equation.
He has to be somewhere getting guaranteed playing time in the months leading up to that.
He’ll still only be 21 at that point.
I don’t think he’s going anywhere until July 2014.