Ask any football fan who the most famous clubs in the Spanish La Liga are, and they’d be sure to pick out the usual culprits: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Valencia CF, who will arguably crop up approximately eight or nine times out of ten.
In fact, you won’t be surprised to find that most would name the latter more than the former.
The club from the southeastern Mediterranean coast of Spain has had many great squads and managers in its decorated history.
Remember some of their famous players, David Villa, David Silva, Santiago Canizares, Vincente, David Albelda, Juan Mata, Ever Banega & Pablo Aimar or in their past managerial department, Rafael Benitez, Claudio Ranieri, Ronald Koeman & Unai Emery?
Pretty glowing & decorated indeed.
Their peak was at the start of the 2000s when they reached two UEFA Champions League finals and won the UEFA Cup and La Liga in 2004 under Benitez.
However, the club fell into somewhat of a great depression because of a series of bad financial decisions and the 2008 financial crisis.
They never managed to recover and, therefore, were sold to investor Peter Lim.
In the early stages of the takeover, things seemed upward, with the club qualifying for the Champions League multiple times.
Under manager Marcelino, the team finished fourth in La Liga in consecutive seasons, 2017/18 and 2018/19, and even reached the semi-final of the UEFA Europa League in 2019, also winning the Copa del Rey that year.
After that, Marcelino was fired by Peter Lim himself, and the club found itself in a downward spiral, being forced to sell star talent like Carlos Soler, Ferran Torres or club legend Dani Parejo and only being able to replace them for cheap or through their academy, which is one of the best in Europe.
Ever since Marcelino’s sacking, Valencia’s league positions have fluctuated, finishing 9th, 13th, 9th, 16th and 9th over the last five years whilst having to rummage through a handful of managerial appointments to find out its best fit, but to no avail.
The current 2024/25 campaign has proven to be arguably their most tumultuous.
After only winning two out of their last 24 league games, legendary Valencia midfielder Rubén Baraja was relieved of his duties as manager with the club steeped in the relegation zone.
At Christmas, desperate times called for desperate financial measures as they activated a release clause of between £3-4 million to acquire talented West Brom head coach Carlos Corberan. Four months on from that decision, Los Che have enjoyed an upward trajectory on the field.
At the time of writing, they’ve won the second-most points total (25) [Transfermarkt] of any club in La Liga since Corberan’s appointment, and now currently sit 14th in the table, seven points off the drop zone.
Since the Spanish coach took over at his dream job, Valencia have lost just four out of 16 games, against Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid and twice against Barcelona. They’re unbeaten against everyone else they’ve faced, and that’s down to Corberan’s impact both tactically and in his personable management.
Valencia also recently beat Real Madrid on their own turf – the first time they’ve done so since 2008 and their first away win of the campaign – another massive signifier of Corberan’s stellar impact at the Mestalla in just four months.
Even if the club’s off-field matters continue to plague the club’s standing amongst the elite in Spain and their reputation in Europe, their current form under Corberan is certainly providing a light at the end of an incredibly dark tunnel.
One element Valencia continue to find some sense of pride in is its flawless academy, with a number of their young talents currently thriving under Corberan’s tutelage.
Javi Guerra, Yarek Gasiorowski, Fran Perez, Jesús Vázquez and Diego Lopez are a few of their most exciting academy graduates, but one player arguably garnering the most attention both domestically and within Europe’s elite is young, uniquely gifted centre-back Cristhian Mosquera.
The current campaign is Mosquera’s second as an established first-team player at Valencia, and he is already showcasing why he is considered one of the most complete young centre-backs in Europe.
As a result, he’s attracting a whole host of interest with the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus, AC Milan, Bayern Munich, Liverpool and AS Roma all rumoured to be casting an eye on him over the past year.
It won’t be long before the Spanish under-21 international is Valencia’s next big sale in the transfer market. So, how has the 20-year-old gotten to this stage in his career & what will he offer potential suitors?
Who is Cristhian Mosquera?
The story of Cristhian Mosquera starts in Alicante, Spain, a coastal city in the south of the Valencian Community.
He was born to Colombian parents and, at a young age, picked up the sport of basketball instead of football.
Mosquera grew up during the NBA’s global rise when Pau Gasol was winning championships with the late Kobe Bryant.
Given the Spaniard’s height and physique, it’s no surprise to find that he could well have been donning an LA Lakers jersey rather than a Valencia CF had he gotten his own way.
But it was on a Futsal pitch where Mosquera started, developed and honed the unique footballing qualities that we see in his game today.
He joined a local youth team for the sole reason that his cousin played for the team, and they needed a player due to being a man short.
Whatever happened during that period certainly persuaded Mosquera to try out a full eleven-a-side pitch, and it all led to him making his move to the Valencia CF youth team.
He then moved up the ranks quickly, making his full first-team debut in a January 2022 Copa del Rey victory over CD Atlético Baleares.
At 17 years, 6 months, and 23 days, Mosquera became the eighth youngest debutant for Los Che in their club’s history, as well as the youngest ever centre back.
Since then, the now 20-year-old has become the bedrock and heartbeat of the club’s defensive line ever since his La Liga debut against Sevilla in 2022, continually growing and developing to become one of Spain’s most prestigious young footballers.
He’s yet to feature for Luis de la Fuente’s European champions, continuing his development and maturity for the youth teams, but it certainly won’t be long before he’s performing at the highest level not only at club level but for Spain.
However, Mosquera also holds a Colombian passport, making him eligible to feature for Los Cafeteros should he find his opportunities for the Spanish senior side limited.
So far this campaign, he’s clocked just under 3000 minutes of football for Valencia. Last season, he registered 3,252 minutes, highlighting his incredible durability and availability for the club- a unique characteristic that elite clubs will be looking for when trying to sign a young, reliable and workaholic centre-back.
Mosquera, without a shadow of a doubt, will fit the bill for several of Europe’s best.
Dissecting the Cristhian Mosquera Hype / Style of Play
There’s the old saying, ‘Never judge a book by its cover, ‘ but in Mosquera’s case and for the sake of this analysis piece, we simply have to go against the old adage because the Spaniard’s cover arguably makes up for his exceptional footballing gifts.
At face value, when looking at the 20-year-old, the first characteristics you’d notice are his striking physical attributes.
Standing at 6’2″, Mosquera commands attention with his impressive physique and striking presence. With broad shoulders, a lanky frame and a solid build, he resembles a centre-back that could have been designed in a lab to meet the ideal specifications of modern football.
The Los Che academy graduate embodies the quintessential traits of a contemporary centre-back, perfectly blending physical prowess with a refined understanding of the game.
Mosquera’s height and strength enable him to dominate in aerial duels, while his keen tactical awareness and agility add to his imposing on-field persona.
Antonio Rudiger Regen?
The young Spaniard is drawing compelling comparisons to the formidable Real Madrid centre-back Antonio Rudiger.
Each match you watch intensifies the similarities, revealing a blend of poise, strength, and tactical awareness that echoes Rudiger’s commanding presence on the pitch. The parallels in their playing styles are becoming increasingly striking and undeniable, adding depth to the admiration for this emerging talent.
Should Real Madrid be looking at potential Rudiger replacements in the near future, Mosquera should certainly be at the top of their list.
Like the German, Mosquera is a commanding presence, a true backline leader, and an unstoppable force and given his knowledge and understanding of the Spanish top flight, he’d fit right in at the Santiago Bernabeu.
There’s a reason Mosquera is highly regarded amongst Europe’s elite, and before we can delve into his attributes/abilities, let’s see what the stats say.
Stats a fact
Immediately, two attributes stand out for Mosquera: defensive action volume and duel success rate.
The defensive actions component is encouraging but can be influenced heavily by possession, and with Valencia sitting 14th in the La Liga for possession of the ball [FBRef] this season, it explains a good bit of his success.
Los Che under Carlos Corberan have improved considerably defensively. Their freak 7-1 defeat to Barcelona in late January should arguably be considered an outlier since the change in management.
The only other time they’ve conceded more than twice in a game since then came in their 3-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid a month later. Yes, it’s only hypothetical, but if not for those two results, Valencia would hold one of the best defensive records in the league since the turn of the year.
Corberan has moulded and shaped Valencia into a more dogged, organised and determined defensive unit, just like he did for Sky Bet Championship side West Brom during his tenure in Birmingham. Los Che may not have the ball all the time, but they are well-versed in controlling their opponents regardless.
Throughout his tenure, the Spaniard has alternated between 3-4-2-1 and a 4-2-3-1 formation, with his wingers dropping back out of the 4-2-3-1 to form a back-three with two wing-backs early on.
In the above image, we can see their defensive shape up against Girona with five defenders forming the last line with the three centre-backs, including Mosquera, and the wing-backs marking Girona’s attackers.
André Almeida and Diego López, the attacking midfielders or wingers per se, are dropping to the height of the two central midfielders to create another line in front of the defensive line.
This line is focused on defending the centre of the field and is aligned to cover the gaps in Valencia’s backline.
Mosquera’s role [the second to last man – from right to left – in the Valencia backline] is to engage and track his marker in front whenever the player receives in between the lines but also he’s tasked in sweeping up any loose balls in his zone while also providing strong coverage to the central centre-back César Tárrega.
This campaign, he has been instrumental for Valencia, contributing to seven clean sheets so far. His defensive prowess is evident, as he averages 1.1 interceptions and 1.4 tackles per match. Remarkably, he recovers an astonishing 5.4 balls and has been dribbled past a mere 0.3 times. With 3.1 clearances per game, his impact across the defence is undeniable, mastering the art of last-ditch, timely defending.
You’ll find in this article that Mosquera is, in fact, a pleasing-on-the-eye modern-day defender due to his progressive and unique attributes in possession, but he’s also
Wide Defending/Coverage
Mosquera stands out due to his remarkable versatility and positional intelligence. He exudes confidence as he seamlessly navigates any position across the back three.
His extraordinary focus and keen sense of anticipation allow him to read the game with uncanny accuracy, often predicting threats before they materialise. Coupled with his striking physique—tall, lean, and agile—he showcases surprising quickness over short distances, making him a formidable presence on the pitch.
The Alicante-born colossus has so far won almost 70% of his ground duels, again highlighting his dominance when engaging in duels. Amongst centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues, he ranks in the top eight per cent for balls recovered per 90.
As pointed out previously, he is so comfortable sitting in one of the wide centre-back roles either on the left or on the right.
Mosquera showcases an impressive versatility on the field, displaying no bias toward his dominant right foot. This means that despite being right-footed, he skillfully patrols the left side, seamlessly tracking and engaging with attackers. Whether they attempt to race past him on the outside or cut inside toward his stronger foot, he stands unfazed, ready to counter their moves.
His one-on-one defending ranks among the elite in his position. With a powerful, athletic build, Mosquera exudes an imposing presence that poses a formidable challenge for any attacker, no matter their speed or finesse.
At just 20 years old, he faces each defensive situation with a blend of confidence and authority that belies his youth. His adeptness is particularly evident in his wide defending, where he showcases both poise and precision, making him a critical asset to his team’s defensive line.
In the defensive situation below, Mosquera is faced with an opponent who thinks he can get the drop on him by bringing him over to a tight situation…
The Spaniard’s body positioning to read the danger and what comes next is excellent at first…
However, it looks like he’s engaged the situation too early. Rather than standing goal side and not allowing him room to drive the ball towards the goal, he attempts to retrieve the ball on the wrong side.
The Spaniard recovers expertly.
The attacker may have got a yard on Mosquera because of him engaging early, but the 20-year-old uses his strength, anticipation and speed of thought to get himself goal side, marshal his opponent off the ball..
… snuff out the danger and take control of the situation.
He is excellent at matching his opponents for pace, standing up to them with his lanky and striking frame before possessing the quickness of thought and anticipation to read what his opponent will do next.
But as shown above, even when a situation appears hopeless, the Spaniard demonstrates quick thinking, speed, and agility to recover and eliminate danger.
Unbreachable force in the box
Without a doubt, the most important expectation or responsibility of a centre-back is being able to safeguard the penalty area and control central positions on the pitch. Mosquera exemplifies this duty with remarkable finesse and authority.
His defensive nous is characterised by an uncanny ability to intercept passes and foreshadow the moves of opposing attackers, often positioning himself as a formidable barrier against advancing forwards.
With a keen eye for the game, he reads situations meticulously, anticipating threats and stepping in decisively to thwart them.
Mosquera’s commanding presence instils a sense of confidence in his teammates, as he consistently organises the defence while ensuring that no opposing striker can find a comfortable passage into dangerous areas.
As pointed out in this piece, Valencia are a much more dogged, organised and stout defensive unit under Carlos Corberan, with Mosquera becoming one of the focal points of their recent success under the former West Bromwich Albion coach.
The Spaniard’s frame, size, incredible physicality, aggression, and striking athleticism make him an immovable object at the heart of the Valencia defence.
Opposition attackers simply don’t like coming up against him in the box because he’s so hard to bypass. He’s a defender who loves to defend via winning his individual duels, battling up against the strongest or quickest #9s, sweeping up loose balls in front of or behind the back-line, or just simply becoming literally the last line of defence.
His impeccable timing in last-ditch tackles and clearances underscores his commitment to protecting his territory.
In the instance below, Mosquera and his defensive teammates face an attacking threat. One pass to the attacker on the Spaniard’s right shoulder and he’d be in through on goal…
It’s important to note, though, that Mosquera’s positioning in this scenario is excellent. He has a view of the play and threat before him and is aware of the threat behind him…
…because of that, he’s perfectly able to intercept the pass and get Valencia on the attack.
In the defensive scenario below, the opposing attacker looks like he’s got the run on Mosquera and looks through on goal…
…but such situations don’t seem that relatively easy and plain-sailing when the 20-year-old is around. The Spaniard is quick, agile, and confident enough to stop the attacker getting a shot on goal…
Any kind of threat being formed in the Spaniard’s vicinity, he is always there to mop it up and deal with it.
An example of his excellent last-ditch defending through blocks is shown below.
The opposing attacker (ORANGE) has all the time and space in the D outside the penalty area to line up a shot on goal…
…but look at how quick Mosquera gets out to his man to stop him having an easy route to goal. His imposing frame and size, instant anticipation and reading of the situation completely diffuses the situation.
Take a look at the next example of Mosquera’s box defending, which is just as impressive.
The Spaniard is literally Valencia’s last hope as three of his teammates have been taken out of the scenario with a piercing run into the penalty box by an onrushing attacker…
However, as he approaches the box, his line of sight on goal decreases, once again because of Mosquera’s imposing frame, athleticism, speed and defensive reading…
The attacker tries to position himself to get a shot off, but Mosquera’s is always primed and ready to engage…
… and he does, blocking the shot and completely dispelling the danger.
Critics could argue that it’s a situation which many defenders should be dealing with, but trying to anticipate what an attacker does in that moment, whilst also possessing the presence of mind and quickness to follow the speed of the situation, is incredibly difficult.
But Mosquera makes it look relatively easy.
When faced with a striker playing with his back to goal, Mosquera stays tight and uses his size, strength and defensive nous to stop that forward getting any room for manoeuvre. When faced with a dangerous low cross into his penalty area he is, nine times out of ten, always the first one to deal with the cross.
For example, looking at his positioning below (RED).
Mosquera is positioned well and has excellent body alignment. He has a clear view of the ball as well as a complete view of his marker, which allows him to anticipate their efforts to get ahead of him for a potential cross.
Such defensive and positional understanding means he is primed and ready to deal with the cross…
What about dealing with situations when running towards his own goal? Well, you probably know the outcome.
In the instance below, once again, Mosquera’s positioning here is really good. He’s aware of what’s around him.
The player with the ball has a lot of space in behind Valencia’s defence to play a through pass for his teammate on Mosquera’s left shoulder…
Mosquera’s speed, positioning, anticipation and reading are once again put to the test, but it’s a test he passes with flying colours.
He’s always in control of the situation, and that’s down to his flawless speed when covering large spaces and also the speed at which he eats ground.
If the Spaniard had dabbled in a sport beyond basketball before his football career, one would inevitably envision him sprinting in the electrifying world of athletics or track and field.
With his explosive speed, athleticism and striking frame, he could undoubtedly rival Usain Bolt, making the race a breathtaking spectacle.
In any defensive situation, Mosquera is more than capable of fulfilling his responsibilities.
At just 20 years old, having such confidence, poise and decisiveness in his defending is truly remarkable and illustrates the journey and trajectory towards greatness that Mosquera is currently on.
The Art of Recovery
Mosquera’s prowess in recovery defending is undoubtedly one of his standout features, showcasing an impressive blend of athleticism and tactical awareness.
There are moments when the Spaniard’s eagerness to thwart onrushing attackers can lead him to leap out of his defensive line, passionately striving to eliminate the threat. While this intensity demonstrates his commitment, it can sometimes leave both him and his teammates vulnerable to counterattacks, creating gaps that opponents can exploit.
However, what truly elevates a centre-back to elite status is the ability to quickly reassess and respond to dangers that arise after making a miscalculation—whether that’s his own or due to a teammate’s error.
Take, for instance, elite centre-halves like Rudiger or Liverpool’s Virgil Van Dijk, who embody this skill with remarkable finesse. They possess an uncanny ability to read the game, allowing them to recover seamlessly and mitigate threats, turning potential crises into manageable situations.
Mosquera, with his keen instincts, aspires to master this crucial aspect of his game, positioning himself among the top young defenders in Europe.
As mentioned previously, the Valencia academy product possesses incredible athleticism and speed; the way he eats ground when matching an attacker for pace is a phenomenal sight, utilising these attributes consistently to his advantage when eliminating threats or getting his team out of trouble.
In the below instance, the Spaniard is caught out by a long ball, hoping his teammate Dimitri Foulquier bails him out of trouble..
Foulquier fails to get rid of the ball, which squirms under him, giving the opposing attacker a chance to take advantage…
However, look at Mosquera’s recovery.
What seemed like a lost opportunity for the Spaniard to deal with the danger, he more than makes up for, rapidly eating up ground through excellent speed and agility and locking himself in a duel with the attacker…
A duel Mosquera wins with relative ease and confidence…
In another instance, against Atletico Madrid, Mosquera gets caught out of position with Antoine Griezmann, given ample time in between Valencia’s midfield and defence to exploit the gap in the last line and pick out Memphis Depay…
The Dutchman looks like he has all the time in the world to take his chance on goal, but once again, Mosquera bears down on his opponent quickly and precisely…
Instead of going for a left-foot shot, Depay tries to chop back onto his right – a skill he’s done time and time again throughout his decorated career – but Mosquera reads it brilliantly, deflecting the ball off his opponent for a goal kick.
The Spaniard is excellent at reading situations and dealing with them, but he’s also become a master at quickly rectifying individual mistakes due to his tremendous anticipation, athleticism and defensive awareness.
As of matchweek 31 in La Liga 2024/25, Mosquera recorded the most ball recoveries (180) of any player in the Spanish top-flight (ValenciaCF.com)
While many critics may insist that Mosquera must eliminate the occasional lapse in judgment—like the mistakes noted earlier, reminding us that it’s often better to prevent problems than to solve them—it’s important to recognize that these experiences will only serve to enhance the growth and development of the Los Che academy graduate.
Every error is a stepping stone on his path to becoming an even more formidable defender. Every defender makes mistakes, though, it’s almost part and parcel of the job description, just ask some of the best around, like Van Dijk or Antonio Rudiger. It’s how a defender responds in that moment to rectify them, or after the deed has been done, that defines their legacy.
Mosquera is certainly well on his way to writing his own given his stunning trajectory since his emergence on the scene, but still has a long way to go given he’s only 20 years of age.
Aerial efficiency or deficiency?
Aerial duels stand out as a significant concern in his overall performance profile, a point of worry that persists even when factoring in his age. Typically, athletes experience improvement in their aerial skills as they mature, which aligns with the natural biological progression of the human body.
During the teenage years, athletes undergo substantial physical development, and this maturation process continues well into their late 20s.
When we look at Mosquera’s aerial statistics, the situation becomes even more troubling. He consistently ranks among the lowest in the category of aerial duels won per 90 minutes across Europe’s top five leagues, placing him in the bottom six percentile among his positional counterparts.
This statistic is particularly perplexing, especially considering his impressive physique and athletic build. He possesses a long, rangy frame that suggests he should excel in aerial contests. Additionally, he demonstrates remarkable leaping ability for someone of his stature, often appearing poised in the air. Despite these physical advantages, he tends to be more effective at making crucial connections while defending against early crosses, ensuring he often gets the first touch.
As previously noted, his ability to read the game is already highly developed, showcasing an understanding of positioning and timing that belies his youth. His jumping prowess inspires confidence that he should be a strong contender in aerial situations.
Despite the current statistics falling short of expectations, it is important to remember that at just 20 years old, Mosquera has ample time to refine his skills. With continued development, he will likely rank among the elite in aerial defending, transforming potential into consistent performance.
Ball-progression/passing
In the modern game, the role of the centre-back has evolved dramatically. These defenders are now not just stalwarts of the backline; they are pivotal playmakers who initiate attacks from deep within their own half. The expectation is to exhibit exceptional passing abilities, allowing them to seamlessly transition from defence to offence.
In addition to technical prowess, modern centre-backs must possess keen tactical awareness, demonstrating the ability to read the game and make split-second decisions, even under immense pressure when their team is building from the back. They must exhibit keen confidence on the ball, composure and good pass selection to seamlessly get their team into the attacking phase of play.
Valencia are not known for being one of the possession-focused teams in La Liga, and they rank among the lowest in terms of time spent on the ball as a collective unit. Therefore, evaluating Mosquera’s passing ability may not provide a complete picture.
However, according to the statistics, the Spaniard is a safe, low-risk passer. He ranks in the 44th percentile among centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues for progressive passes per 90 minutes, indicating he falls into the lower bracket for this particular attribute. There is a case to argue that the system deployed at Valencia may be the cause for him not being as progressive as he should be.
Once he makes the move to an elite side in the near future, those progressive attributes may be exerted with much more confidence and comfort.
Nonetheless, Mosquera excels in pass completion percentage, ranking in the top 15% with a remarkable completion rate of 90.9% over the past year.
Just because Mosquera may not exert as many proactive qualities in his passing at Valencia, given his deceptive technical acumen, doesn’t mean he isn’t a progressive outlet.
The Spaniard is proactive through other means and arguably the rarest attribute for a centre-back, his dribbling/ball-carrying.
If the situation presents itself, the 20-year-old possesses the presence of mind, athleticism and excellent ball control to travel with the ball at his feet to force his team up the pitch or evade a tight situation.
Like the instance below…
Mosquera, playing for the Spanish under-21s, has the ball deep in his own half with an onrushing attacker attempting to press him and force a mistake.
The Spaniard can’t pass to his teammate alongside him as he is also being pressed. He may have to switch it across to find a teammate in space…
Instead, Mosquera does exceptionally well to con and evade his marker with excellent body deception and movement…
…opening up a passing lane to find his teammate in midfield, aiding ball progression by working around the opponent’s press…
In another similar instance, Mosquera holds the ball in a pressurised situation..
…but has no problem bypassing his opponent, showing him one way before shifting the ball quickly the opposite way and driving forward…
The Spaniard then has to pick his pass right, but isn’t given the best of options to aid progression, with his teammates all bunched up in the same vicinity, but it’s no problem…
He drives forward a few yards more…
…before picking out his attacking teammate in a bit of space to build an attacking scenario.
Mosquera’s dribble take-on success rate stands at 63%, which is a very decent mark for a centre-back ranking in the 69th percentile, showing he is more selective when he dribbles the ball out with his feet, choosing to take players on and carry the ball when it is most opportune.
Again, the above instances are only too small a sample size to fully judge Mosquera on, but it’s a small indication that he holds all the attributes to be a top-level progressive centre-back, capable of getting the ball forward quickly through quick thinking and incisive decisions once being pressed.
Future Mosquera Forecast
In a matter of two seasons, Cristhian Mosquera has already established himself as one of the best defenders in La Liga.
Boasting a formidable physique, exhilarating athleticism, and lightning-fast speed, Mosquera is an immovable force at the heart of defence. His remarkable physical strength and astute defensive awareness set him apart as the quintessential modern-day centre back.
It’s no wonder that he is frequently compared to the likes of Antonio Rudiger from Real Madrid, as both share an impressive ability to dominate their opponents and command the defensive line with authority.
And the way his current trajectory is heading right now, it won’t be a surprise to see the Spaniard surpass the former Chelsea man.
At 20 years old, he’s already got some of Europe’s biggest names tracking his progress at the Mestalla Stadium, including AC Milan, Juventus, Atletico Madrid and FC Bayern Munich (Sky Sports journo Florian Plettenberg).
Judging by the way he’s excelling so far, especially under Carlos Corberan’s management, he’d certainly fit right in at any of those clubs.
When considering the potential of a young talent like Mosquera to integrate into elite football clubs, it’s essential to analyse the tactical frameworks employed by these teams.
Each club’s style of play, formation, and player roles can significantly influence whether Mosquera can flourish in that environment.
A club like Bayern Munich is certainly more progressive and positional focused than the others, but the Spanish youngster has shown he can fulfil the role of a progressive centre-back. At a club like Atletico Madrid, where Diego Simeone expects his CBs to dominate their box, be physical up against the markers, and defend at all costs more than a progressive outlet, Mosquera certainly fits the bill.
Whatever role you want Mosquera to fill, he’d have no problems acclimatising himself.
In a back three as a wide-centre-back or a central one or as one of the two centre-backs in a back four, the Spaniard is incredibly versatile and adaptable, making him one of the most attractive options in the market for any potential suitor.
He will certainly need to continue to make giant strides in his passing and aerial duels, but there is reason to believe all three areas will improve as his play evolves.
It won’t be long before we see this incredibly gifted young talent playing at the highest levels, both at club and on the international stage. When coming through Valencia’s academy, that’s certainly the expectation for its young academy products, as seen throughout the club’s decorated history.
Mosquera is up next and ready to take that giant step towards the elites.
anthonyscouts.co.uk 