Porto Starlet Juan Iturbe privileged to be compared with Lionel Messi – Report
Porto’s highly rated starlet, Juan Iturbem has expressed honour on being likened to his compatriot http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Lionel-Messi-c22296.
The Argentine has been nicknamed 'La Pulguita' owing to his similarities with the world’s best player, but Iturbe remained humbled and delighted to be recognized along the same lines as his idol.
“My teammates have lumbered me with ‘Pulguita’ (Little Flea) – they call me it all the time,"
"I find it a little awkward because Messi is the best in the world, a truly unique player, though I do feel a sense of pride when they say it, of course.” Iturbe said.
The 5 ft 6 1⁄2 inches forward has been touted as the star of the future for club and country and his diminutive frame and repertoire of skills are considered to be in the Messi/Maradona bracket.
“I have to laugh when people compare me to Messi," he said. "I’m just starting out, while what he does every day at http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Barcelona-c38604 is truly impressive. But let me be as clear as possible: I want to make my own mark on the game.” He boomed.
Iturbe started his career with the youth ranks of Universal and Trinidense but later transferred to http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Cerro-Porteño-c38775. But he wasn’t able to sign a professional contract at the General Pablo Rojas Stadium due to the tender age of 16, so he left on a Bosman transfer.
The 18-year-old was then snapped up by Quilmes, but his stint at the Estadio Centenario Dr. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/José-c19246 Luis Meiszner was cut short when Portuguese giants Porto signed the White and Sky Blue International. As a part of his deal, he spent the remainder of the season
in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Brazil-c2858 with the Brewers and managed to net 3 goals in 11 appearances for the Brazilian outfit.
While Iturbe is Argentine by birth, he chose to represent http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Diego-Maradona-c11160 and Lionel Messi. His impact was immediate and after some shining displays,
he managed to make it into the 2010 FIFA World Cup Squad
Iturbe will now test his mettle in the U-20 World Cup with http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/England-c749 and North Korea to qualify for the next
round.
Although the youngster is still quite unproven and hasn’t even appeared for the Dragao, his talents and sublime http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Skills-c40539 remain undoubted.
But if he is ever to be counted in the same breath as Argentine legends, Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona, he must come up with more similarities than just his height.
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