I’ve seen about twenty players tapped up as the “next Mascherano” in the past 5 years, but only Santiago Ascacibar has really proved he’s ready to take the reins of the diminutive, bald Argentine. A tenacious tackler with an unheralded pedazo of flair in him, Ascacibar has been one of the best players in the Primera this season, with Estudiantes four points off the top as 2016 comes to a close. Only 19, he’s Argentina’s next top destroyer. He should take the next step soon, to a promising European project like Red Bull Leipzig or Marseille. But for now, he’s going to learn alongside one of the most technical players of his generation, Juan Sebastián Verón, who just came out of retirement to play for his boyhood club. Ascacibar is the complete #5, he can bring the ball out of defense, control and aggressively win back the ball. Ascacibar is the tapón for the defense, and he’s won over Argentine legends with his remarkable ability. As Diego Simeone said, “Ascacibar has the highest potential of any Argentine player, he is the future of Argentina.” High praise when some of Argentina’s young prospects include his players Matías Kranevitter and Ángel Correa, the likes of Emmanuel Mammana, Mauro Icardi, oh, and Simeone’s highly-rated son, Giovanni. Take it from Cholo: there is no better promise in Argentina than Santiago Ascacibar.
Photo Credit: Goal.com