It has been one yr since Tottenham Hotspur signed Alejo Véliz for $17 million plus $6 million in extra bonuses and a ten% sell-on clause, a club-record charge that surpassed the $11.5 million that Rosario Central obtained for Facundo Buonanotte’s transfer to Brighton & Hove Albion in 2022. Since then, he hasn’t fairly managed to hit the bottom operating in Europe –aside from a comfort purpose in a 4-2 drubbing at Brighton, Véliz failed to attain in any of his eight matches for Spurs, earlier than heading to Sevilla on mortgage and failing to seek out the again of the online in his six appearances.
The 20-year-old Argentine striker has returned to Spain for one more mortgage, becoming a member of newly promoted Espanyol. He has already racked up extra minutes this season (314) than Sevilla and Tottenham mixed (76), having began in every of their first 4 matches, and on August 31, he scored simply his second purpose in European soccer and his first in eight months. With Espanyol and Rayo Vallecano headed for a stalemate, Véliz stepped up and delivered with a world-class end within the 96th minute to safe a 2-1 win at house.
Having scored 19 objectives in 63 appearances for his boyhood membership, Véliz hasn’t but managed to regulate to life on the opposite aspect of the Atlantic, however there’s cause to consider that 2024/25 may very well be a turning level in his younger profession. At present, we’re having a look at Véliz and what he can convey to Espanyol’s assault.
Identify: Alejo Véliz
Place: Middle Ahead
Nation: Argentina
Age: 20
Peak: 186cm
Most popular Foot: Proper
Final Membership: Tottenham Hotspur
Alejo Véliz was introduced up in Rosario Central’s academy and was within the first group for only one season earlier than becoming a member of Tottenham for €15 million final summer season. After not getting many minutes he joined Sevilla on mortgage the place he was not a protagonist both. Earlier than we start the information evaluation, you will need to point out that the information of Alejo Véliz is from his time at Rosario Central as there may be inadequate information from final season in order to hold out a complete information evaluation.
On this picture, we are able to see that Alejo Véliz has very excessive values in each xG and objectives scored with related numbers to that of Martin Braithwaite. This showcases his capability to get into goal-scoring positions and having the ability to convert that xG into objectives. For Espanyol, this is essential as with Braithwaite departing they want a participant who can exchange his objectives and Alejo Véliz seems like he can exchange him.
Right here we are able to observe that Alejo Véliz may be very poor at producing alternatives with 0.01 xA per 90. Nonetheless, this isn’t crucial for a striker as they’re counted upon to attain objectives reasonably than make assists.
From this picture, we are able to deduce that dribbling shouldn’t be considered one of Alejo Véliz’s strengths with very poor numbers on this facet. This tells us that he avoids these actions and that he’s maybe a participant much less snug on the ball, performing extra as a goal man.
Right here we are able to affirm the earlier thesis saying that he was a goal man as he’s a participant with a really low quantity of passes that means that he doesn’t drop to assist in possession, however reasonably he waits for the ball up entrance.
From this picture, we are able to deduce that Alejo Véliz’s aerial capability is outstanding with greater than 9 aerial duels per 90 and near a 50% success price. This may be one thing helpful for Espanyol as groups will probably press them after they play from the again so having a participant up entrance who can win aerial duels and assault the house behind the press is usually a helpful asset.
This chart compares Alejo Véliz with the remainder of the gamers within the Argentinian league in his place within the 22/23 season utilizing percentiles in numerous facets of the sport. The percentiles work in the best way that regardless of the quantity, he’s higher than that share of gamers. Whether it is 70, he’s higher than 70%.
On this chart, we are able to observe that he’s in a really excessive percentile for objectives and anticipated objectives which talks nicely about his goal-scoring capability which is vital for any group. Nonetheless, we are able to see that he lacks the capability to create goal-scoring alternatives being in very low percentiles in these facets.
Moreover, he additionally has some deficiencies when it comes to his possession-based facets which tells us that he’s not a participant who likes to get entangled in possession. That is one thing that could be a deficiency in his recreation contemplating he’s becoming a member of a group that wishes to have the ball.
Lastly, we are able to see that Véliz is outstanding within the air, being within the 97th percentile for achievement price in profitable aerial duels. As well as, he’s in a really excessive percentile for clearances, that is most likely because of his aerial capability as when he defends corners and free-kicks he’ll clear the ball within the air. Nonetheless, within the blocks and tackles + interceptions he’s fairly poor which reveals poor willpower to press and defend which is one thing he must change.
In conclusion, Alejo Véliz is usually a nice alternative for Martin Braithwaite as he can exchange his objectives having very excessive values in each objectives scored and anticipated objectives. As well as, he is superb within the air which may be helpful for Espanyol because it makes them unpredictable with the power to play lengthy if the opposite group decides to press.
Nonetheless, he doesn’t have the power to create probabilities, and he isn’t snug on the ball so he doesn’t essentially go well with Manolo González, the Espanyol supervisor. Furthermore, he doesn’t have the dedication to defend and press the opposition which might be crucial in a greater league. Lastly, his time in Europe has not been probably the most fruitful having restricted recreation time and this information is from two seasons in the past in a weaker league, so we must see if he can mirror these numbers within the Spanish top-flight.
By: Juan Fernandez Valencia / @ScoutLaLiga
Featured Picture: @GabFoligno / NurPhoto
