The Seagulls are singing this season. Graham Potter has Brighton looking hungry for points as giant killings have already begun. The flexibility in Graham Potter’s tactics has bamboozled opponents on the pitch. However, the winning doesn’t limit itself to games on the pitch. After looking solid in defence and the likes of Pascal Gross and Leandro Trossard delivering well, Brighton are winning in the transfer market too with some smart signings.
Having signed wing-back Pervis Estupinan, Brighton look set to bring Argentine wonderkid Facundo Buonanotte to his roster. The attacking midfielder with enormous potential has decided to leave the Premier Tier of Argentine football for the Premier League side and the fans are excited.
🗣️🚨 FACUNDO BUONANOTTE CONFIRMS BRIGHTON TRANSFER:
Buonanotte: "Today they confirmed my sale. It's not every day that a Premier League club comes looking for you. I'm going to respect (Rosario) Central and I am going to to give (my all) until the last day." Via Estadio 3. 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/pE6hrniWGu— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) August 29, 2022
Who is Facundo Buonanotte?
Facundo Buonanotte is a 17-year-old footballer from Argentina who plays for Primera División side Rosario Central. After playing for the U20 side until March 2022, he finally broke out into the first team this season after being given the chance by the manager, Carlos Tevez.
He has played his part in 13 games so far, being substituted five times out of those and starting the rest; he has bagged a goal and an assist in those games. He is a pretty versatile left-footed midfielder and can play both as an attacking midfielder and on the right.
Style of play
When it comes to playstyle, it doesn’t get any better or silkier than Facundo Buonanotte. He is a natural when it comes to dribbling with the ball. He has the ability to handle tight spaces very well. Being very agile, the ball sticks to his feet as he quickly moves past the opponent. This makes him a very good creative playmaker, however, his style of cutting inside makes him an incredible roaming playmaker who can function as an exceptional system player if it’s needed.
Facundo Buonanotte joined the Rosario Central youth academy at the age of 10. He is considered to be club’s most talented academy graduate since Ángel Di María.
He made his professional debut for Rosario Central on 13 May 2022 in the Copa Argentina game against Sol de Mayo.
— Football Talent Scout – Jacek Kulig (@FTalentScout) August 29, 2022
He is good at winning the ball back, being a very active part of a gegenpressing team. Once the ball is won, he is also good at retaining it and moving forward with it. As mentioned how well he can handle tight spaces, he is also not hesitant to make the right pass, having seen some very exquisite perfectly timed progressive passes and balls over the top in this season. In his youth academy days, his fearlessness in shooting is evident. These traits make him very unpredictable and dangerous. Even though he isn’t the tallest, he is good at heading the ball, he can handle pressure well when marked by opposing defenders.
All this not only adds to a very high potential player but describes a footballer who makes the game entertaining and fun to watch, an “Artist” if you will. Brighton fans should be very excited.
Facundo Buonanotte potential
Buonanotte is coming with a lot of backing and appreciation, that too from former Premier League legend and Argentina national footballer, Carlos Tevez. Carlos Tevez has compared Facundo to the great Lionel Messi after he scored the first match-winning goal in his managerial career at Rosario Central and after watching his style of play.
🗣️🚨 Carlos Tevez on Brighton target Facundo Buonanotte: "I watch football and it's been a long time since I've seen someone play who gives me as much pleasure as Buonanotte. When he brakes and accelerates, he reminds me of (Lionel) Messi. He is at a very high level." 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/87EwvdHRQb
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) August 29, 2022
Comparison for a budding football player doesn’t get more daunting than Messi. However, it’s difficult to not see glimpses of the little genius when watching Buonanotte play. At Brighton, he goes into the perfect atmosphere for youngsters. The likes of Tariq Lamptey, Marc Cucurella, Moises Caicedo and Alexis MacAllister have flourished under in Graham Potter’s tactics and his man-management. Buonanotte doesn’t need to look further than his own teammate, Caicedo, for a blueprint to success in the PL coming from South America.
Facundo Buonanotte at Brighton- Caicedo 2.0?
The deal is said not to be immediate. According to TyC Sports, the Argentine would cost the seagulls $10m on a 5-year deal and there is said to be an agreement in place. There is also said to be a 20% sell-on clause involved. This deal will take Brighton’s money spent this summer to nearly £40m.
This is not the first time Brighton have looked to sign a player from South America, having signed Moises Caicedo, who was linked with Manchester United this window, from the Ecuadorian League and Alexis Mac Allister coming from Argentina in 2019. Those two have set high expectations. However, if there was one player in South America that could follow their standards, or even exceed them, it’s Facundo Buonanotte.
