As Fiorentina and Peru player Juan Manuel Vargas fought against the river of mediocrity that runs through the current generation of Peru’s footballers in their recent qualifier against Ecuador, it really was hard to remember if a player had ever been so alone in trying to win a football match.
On the 46th minute, Vargas’s solitary confinement in the Peruvian national team was ended by a substitution as Luis Ramirez was replaced by a debutant.
27-year-old Roberto Merino Ramirez is a late starter in International football having made his debut last week at the tail end of Peru’s disastrous qualification campaign.
He started his football education at the tender age of 15 in Barcelona’s youth academy and has since lingered in the lower leagues of Swiss, Greek, Spanish, and now Italian football with Serie B outfit Salernitana.
After making a massive impact with Salernitana in just eight appearances since signing for them in February this year, it now seems that, relatively speaking, Merino has the world at his feet as the dark horse of this season’s transfer window, and new saviour of Peruvian football.
Having shone like a star in Serie B, the next logical step would be either a move to Serie A with his countryman Vargas at Fiorentina, or to live up to his nickname, “Maradona of the Andes”, at Napoli after his goal against Albinoleffe earlier this season caught their attention and sparked comparisons with the little Argentine.
As well as these more predictable offers if Merino’s agent Jose Alberti, is to be believed Manchester City are also willing to take a speculative gamble on Merino.
“He is the kind of player that forces the defending team to pick up at least four bookings per game because he really is fantastic, right now he has received an offer from Manchester City and another one from one of the other clubs that want him. “
“We have been contacted by Fiorentina, and wearing the purple shirt next season would be an honour for Merino. He really is a little Maradona.”
The 5'5" Peruvian is just as tempting a prospect as he is potentially disastrous. Having been born in Chiclayo, Peru but grown up in Spain, he holds a European passport and even represented Spain at the under-19 level, eliminating any of the visa problems a South American can sometimes encounter.
As a direct skillful player, his approach is so easy on the eye, it’s obvious why top clubs are willing to take a risk on him.
Serie B though, is no cast iron indicator of talent. If Premiership or Serie A defences can combat his directness, Merino will be forced to adapt or fail. At 27, it’s debatable whether he even could.
The physicality of the premiership may be just a step too far for Merino, presuming, that is, an offer from Manchester City is really on the table. In these days of transfer window madness, the very mention of a club like Manchester City can easily be used as leverage by any agent looking to add a few zeros on the end of a figure.
What’s certain, though, is if Merino was 10 years younger, his options would be almost limitless. Untapped potential in lower leagues is a rare thing indeed. Were he 17 rather than 27, I’ve no doubt he would be being coveted by every big club in Europe.
Whether fighting for a place in Manchester City’s first 11 next season or lighting up Serie A with Napoli or Fiorentina, it will be very interesting to see if his cavalier style of play can be replicated at a higher level or whether the “new Maradona” tag will remain the poison chalice it always has been.
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