Football Wonderkid Scout

With the high profile departures of Sergio Aguero and Diego Forlan there will be big expectations placed on Argentine starlet Eduardo Salvio. Fresh from a fine season on loan at Benfica, the versatile talent will be hoping to team up with new summer signing Radamel Falcao to lead the charge at Atlético in La Liga and in the Europa League. Standing at 5 ft 7, Salvio is not one of the biggest players but his low centre of gravity and ability to beat defenders has seen him compared to Aguero himself.

Arriving from Lanus in January 2010 for a fee of €10 million, Salvio came with a glowing reputation as one of the most exciting talent in South America after a string of performances for club and country with Argentina’s U20s. Heading up a new generation of attacking talent from Argentina, Salvio can play on either flanks, as an attacking midfielder or as a second striker.

After a disappointing pre-season during the 2010/11 campaign, Quique Sánchez Flores decided that Salvio would benefit from a loan move after filling their 3 non-EU sports for the season with Sergio Agüero, Diego Godín and Diego Costa. After interest from a number of suitors from Italy, Spain and Portugal, Salvio opted to join Benfica due to their qualification for the Champions League. After a relatively slow start to Portuguese football, Salvio became a key figure and helped Benfica to a second place finish in the league.

Such was the form of Salvio that Benfica had considered taking the Argentine starlet on a permanent basis. His return to Atlético having a full season of European football under his belt will be a welcome boost for a team which at times lacked creativity and flair last season. Salvio will be looking to establish himself as a key fixture in the Atlético line up and confirm his enormous potential.