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Scouted by Liverpool?
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Selton Sued Sánchez Camilo, or Selton Sánchez, has already had an exciting career. The 18-year-old playmaker made his debut for Athletic Club in the Champions League against Newcastle United (0-2) on November 5 and then featured in the starting XI against Real Oviedo (1-0) in LaLiga at home at the San Mamés. The club from the Basque Country relies on homegrown players, and as such, Sánchez’s story is perhaps not that unique. But Sánchez’s ancestry makes him an interesting story. The playmaker is the son of a Basque father and a Brazilian mother, who is related to former Liverpool and current Al-Sadd star Roberto Firmino.
The family relationship to the Brazilian star has already caught the attention of the popular blog Anfield Watch, which has linked the Spanish U19 national team player with a move to Liverpool, where his cousin was one of the most popular players over the last ten years. His profile is a perfect fit for the sort of player Reds manager Arne Slot is looking for on the transfer market, the report read. Whether Liverpool are truly interested in Sánchez is yet to be confirmed—the biggest talents of the top five leagues are, however, always being scouted by Europe’s top clubs. Furthermore, Sánchez’s "Rabona" pass against Oviedo also made major headlines on social media, significantly increasing his online hype.
In Bilbao, where he is under contract until 2029, Sánchez is considered a future star. The original plan was for Sánchez to play for the feeder club CD Basconia in the fourth division and to captain the U19 in the UEFA Youth League. There, Borussia Dortmund became the latest victim of Sánchez’s skills, when Firmino’s cousin scored a goal and provided two assists in Athletic’s 4-0 victory. Perhaps that accelerated Athletic’s plan, as he has been a part of Ernesto Valverde’s team since the start of the month.
“A player of excellent quality” – Valverde on Sánchez
“Selton is a player of excellent quality and self-confidence, who isn’t afraid of hard work and is really pushing forward,” former Barcelona head coach Valverde said after Sunday’s win to Spanish outlet Sport. “The expectations on him are high. He is only 18 and has to build up his physical strength. But this is an important step for him.” Sánchez, too, voiced caution and said that he still had to improve: “I am not quite in a place where I can play an entire game.” At the same time, he thanked the fans for their support. “You have to pay back their affection on the pitch. I am also sure that my family shed a few tears of joy.”
Sanchez is an incredibly gifted footballer blessed with great vision and exemplary technique that allow him to be both a creator and a goal-scorer. Just like his famous cousin. The 18-year-old has the ability to create chances and to put his opponent under pressure. His first coach, Luis Francisco Lorenzo, also spoke positively about Sánchez in an interview with Sport. “The manner in which he touches the ball, the way he receives it, his movements. You could tell he was born for it; that’s something you are given when you are born. It separates him from the other players, even though they were a year older, and at that age, that is something that stands out. That’s why Athletic took him. Because he already had class at a very young age.”
That observation is underlined by the fact that Sánchez made the jump from the fourth division to the Champions League. If he continues to feature under Valverde, the Firmino-related hype and rumours are only set to increase. It will also be interesting to see what happens with his market value. LaLiga will be updated on December 12, and the second to fourth divisions will be updated on December 30. Whether Sánchez will be updated on the first or second date will be entirely up to him and his development over the coming weeks.
