ไทย
English
中國人
Every top club wants to identify the next big star before they break through. Real Madrid did exactly that with Vinícius Júnior, snapping up the 16-year-old within a fortnight of his first Flamengo appearance, and now Liverpool believe they've uncovered a future talent in Samuel Martínez.
The 17-year-old Colombian was acquired from Atlético Nacional in July but will remain there until next summer due to FIFA regulations prohibiting international transfers involving minors. Martínez turns 18 in April 2027 and is set to officially become a Liverpool player on July 1 of that year.
Martínez was one of the standout performers at this year's U-17 South American Championship in April, which put him on the radar of most of Europe's elite clubs—he had been virtually unknown outside Colombian youth football prior to that. Liverpool even cited those performances, which helped Colombia advance to the semifinals, in their official announcement.
Such competitions are inevitably fertile ground for European scouts seeking the next generation of talent.
Man Utd, Barcelona, Chelsea, Man City Rejected
The youngster's proud parents have revealed that 29 other clubs—including Manchester United and Barcelona—were turned away as the family chose Liverpool.
"Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City, Barcelona, Watford, Udinese, Chelsea, Manchester United, among others, all wanted him," his father, Jairo Martínez, told Gol Caracol.
Samuel's mother, Victoria Valencia, added: "It felt like a dream to realize it wasn't just Liverpool. There were 30 clubs from around the world, and we barely slept for nearly a month and a half. Everyone was calling at all hours. We were living on European time for a whole month."
Martínez has yet to make a senior appearance for Atlético Nacional, the 18-time Colombian champions. That could potentially change over the next 10 months before he heads to England, where he will initially join Liverpool's academy setup.
The teenager is a tall, slender No. 10 who has already drawn comparisons to 2007 Ballon d'Or winner Kaká.
Earlier this year, he told ESPN Colombia that "dribbling" and taking on defenders is what he enjoys most on the pitch. "The truth is, I like to change the pace going forward, always moving forward, taking on opponents," he said. "I can keep possession and also help defend because it's not just about attacking; now you have to defend too."
That mindset should stand him in good stead in England, where even technically gifted attacking players are expected to put in a defensive shift at every level. It will likely also ease his transition that he already speaks English, having lived in the United States from before kindergarten through to the end of second grade.
Kendry Paez—a Cautionary Tale
For every Vinícius Jr, there are countless teenage prodigies who failed to live up to their early promise.
Martínez would be wise to take note of the struggles of Kendry Páez, who was a first-team player for Ecuador's Independiente del Valle at just 15 before being signed by Chelsea a year later. He went on to become Ecuador's youngest-ever international, with only Diego Maradona having represented a senior national team at a younger age across all of South America.
Yet Páez found things difficult when he finally turned 18 and relocated to London. Loan spells at Strasbourg and River Plate were cut short in 2026, and he is so far out of Chelsea's first-team picture that Xabi Alonso has essentially confirmed there is no prospect of Páez featuring this season.
He is fighting not only for his future at Chelsea, but potentially for any career at the top level. "He is a good kid who has had it tough and who has made decisions that have complicated his life," said Michel Deller, owner of Independiente del Valle, reflecting on the situation.