?Spain, a country revered for churning out the crème de la crème of footballing technicians, may well have stumbled upon their next star.
The performances of 18-year-old Nico Melamed in Espanyol’s reserve side has led to some of Europe’s elite taking notice and according to Sky Sports’ Gianluca Di Marzio; Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea and Bayern are all ready to pay upwards of £7m to secure Melamed’s services – whenever the next opportunity arises.
So, if you’re thinking to yourself who the hell is this guy – perfectly fair, he’s only played 34 first-team minutes in his career – we here at 90min have got you covered.
Here’s everything you need to know about the talented Spaniard, and don’t fear flaunting your Melamed knowledge to your mates in a House Party call later either.
Right, Who on Earth Is This Guy?
To get things started, let’s take a look at where it all began for the highly sought after Espanyol starlet.
Born in Castelldefels, Barcelona, Melamed starting his footballing journey at local club Atlètic Vilafranca before being spotted by Catalonia-based outfit Cornellà in his pre-teen years. Cornellà, by the way, currently play in the third tier of Spanish football.
Nevertheless, Melamed’s talent was then noticed by Espanyol, who didn’t hesitate in drafting the then 11-year-old into their youth set-up.
From there, he continued to grow and shine at a youth level before becoming a prominent member in La Periquitos’ reserve side in the 2018/19 campaign – starring in an attack-minded central midfield role.
Melamed’s impressive displays for the reserves last time out saw him rewarded with his first-team debut in August 2019 against Luzern in a Europa League qualifier. On that occasion, the Spaniard proved his versatility with a bright substitute performance from a left midfield position.
And hey, props to him for rocking a tucked-in shirt in 2020.
Youth International?
Barely.
Melamed was called up to the Spain Under-19 squad for their European Championship qualifiers last October, but he failed to earn his first full cap.
If La Roja aren’t willing to utilise Melamed’s talent, the 18-year-old has the option of switching loyalties to La Albiceleste, Argentina – with his grandfather being of Argentinian descent.
What Are His Strengths?
Judging by the three minutes of footage available to us online, there’s little doubting that Melamed’s a technically proficient customer who’s comfortable in tight spaces.
His slight frame means he has a swift burst of acceleration to get by defenders one-v-one, while the Spaniard’s superb ball manipulation allows him to beat defenders on the inside, which he usually does via a step-over or drop of the shoulder. Moreover, the 18-year-old’s low centre of gravity makes him pretty tough to dispossess cleanly – much like Santi Cazorla and Marco Verratti.
Melamed’s tenacity was also impressive on his senior debut and going forward, his aggression and determination to win back possession will be a dream for managers who adopt a pressing-based philosophy.
For the Espanyol’s reserves, Melamed proved he has an eye for goal as well – scoring nine times in 39 appearances.
Who Would You Compare Him With?
From what we’ve seen, comparisons to Phillipe Coutinho and Isco wouldn’t be unjust in terms of play-style.
The duo are diminutive playmakers who enjoy occupying the left flank due to the passing lanes and shooting angles it opens up infield for a right-footer. While Melamed may not possess the astute creative nous of the seasoned pros, his dribbling ability is certainly of a similar ilk.
Hopefully, we can see more of him in a central role when/if football eventually resumes.
Is He Good Enough for a Move to One of Europe’s Elite?
In his report, Di Marzio mentioned that the clubs linked with a move for Melamed will look to pursue a deal in the next transfer window – his £7.2m release clause is not believed to be an issue.
And in response to the above question, well, quite frankly, it’s hard to tell.
Melamed has looked a fine prospect in his ridiculously small sample size but he doesn’t scream superstar. While’s he’s shown maturity at a senior level for the reserves, the fact he’s only made one first-team appearance and is yet to make his first full cap for Spain’ Under-19’s would suggest Melamed could merely be another technically gifted prospect to be churned out of the country.
Nevertheless, the talent is undoubtedly there and the teenager is certainly someone who’ll have to be nurtured carefully if he is to fulfil his potential.
But just how high is that ceiling? It remains to be seen…
Let’
