MARCELO ESTIGARRIBIA
Marcelo Estigarribia is a fairly unknown player in world football but that might be about to change. The 23yr old Paraguayan winger has, in the last month been courted by both Glasgow Rangers and Turin Giants Juventus after some outstanding displays in this summers Copa America.
Estigarribia started his career in the youth team of Club Union Pacifico before moving to Sport Colombia where he made his professional debut at 17. After only one season the young winger moved back to his homeland, signing for Cerro Porteno where he made 45 appearances scoring 6 goals.
At the tender age of 20, Estigarribia moved to one of Europes top leagues when he signed for French club Le Mans. After making 21 appearances while shining for the 'B' team Marcelo was rewarded with promotion to The french clubs first team squad.
The Paraguayan found the phyisical nature of Ligue 1 football hard to adapt to and only made 3 starts and 4 sub appearances in the final stages of the 2008/9 season.
Season 2009/10 didn't get off to a good start either as he found himself out of the picture with only 1 start before christmas. During the January transfer window it was decided that a loan move would be the best option for the player and the club and on the last day of the transfer window Estigarribia moved to Argentinian team Newells Old Boys on an 18month loan.
Macelo settled well and it didn't take him long to establish himself as a regular in the side.
In his last season he played nearly every game for Newells and grabbed himself a place in Paraguay's 2011 Copa America team. The tournament consisting of the best teams in South America is where the 23yr old decided to show the world what he was made of, so much so, that he has been labelled as one of the stars of the tournament.
In Paraguays 4th game they came up against the giants of Brazil, but it wasn't Neymar, Pato or Ganso that was on everyone's mind come the end of the 90min's, it was Estigarribia who stole the headlines. In the match Chelsea midfielder Ramires was ordered to help out Dani Alves due to him being skinned left right and centre by the young winger.
His displays in the tournament have not gone un-noticed with clubs from Europe now circling. Glasgow Rangers showed an interest before the Copa America back in May, but will now most definitely be priced out of the bidding for the classy winger. Most recenlty though there has been interest from Juventus as the Italian giants look to strengthen for next season.
Estigarribia's current SM club is Le Mans and the French Club are looking for a minimum fee of £4.7 million for their prize asset and £5.64million part-exchange. mere pennys for such an exciting talent.
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