Colombian winger Marlos Moreno is on the verge of signing for English oil-rich giants Manchester City.
The Atletico Nacional attacker will cost the club somewhere in the region of £8 million, and it is expected that the wonder-kid will spend next season on-loan in Spain.
Rumors about his hot-shot move to England have been doing rounds, but not much is known about the 19-year old attacker.
FootTheBall brings you insight on the soon-to-be new poster-kid for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
Player Type
Moreno is a winger but is more than capable of playing inside the box, as the 19-year old is very comfortable playing as an inside-forward.
He is also capable of playing on both sides of the pitch, though a specialist on the left-wing, this does not affect his classy movement on the right-wing.
Moreno is also very pacey, so the little Colombian is very deadly up-front as he is capable of operating in all 3 attacking positions and his speed and powerful play can become a nightmare for defenders and goalies alike in the Premier League.
Strengths
The 19-year old is very fast, his pace and acceleration will catch your eye, the first time you see him on a pitch.
But his footwork, sharpness, balance and agility are also world-class, though his playing-style can sometimes come-out as arrogant due to his constant desire to pull-off tricks.
Weaknesses
Moreno at times can act pretty selfish, taking long-range shots, when a team-mate is in a better position then him.
However, this should not worry Guardiola as this sort of things go away as a player matures.
Cost-Effective?
The price will not be of any concern for Sheikh Mansoor, as the player is being bought at under £10 million, which if the player fulfills his potential will be a coup, but even if he doesn’t, it won’t raise many eyebrows.
Future
Moreno will likely end-up in Spain on-loan, so he will get time to adjust to European football and will also get exposure and playing-time, which will determine his future at City.
Guardiola will keep a close-eye on the player, and if a loan move does not materialize then Moreno will be competing with the likes of Sterling, De Bryune and Nolito for a place in the starting eleven.
Though a big question that still remains unanswered is if he can settle in England.
Many players have come from Latin and South-America in the past, with huge reputations, but have failed to live up-to the hype and name in Europe.
European football is different from that of South-American football, and it will be very interesting to see if the 19-year old can settle in.
