It’s no lie to say that in recent years, the Mexican academy teams have started to improve the level of the players that start their process, as the quality of the youngsters, added to the growth that MLS and Liga MX are having has helped them become more competitive.
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El Tri still needs to take a step up when the talk is around the senior national team, but in the academy categories, they have become one of the toughest teams to face, as they have gotten used to reach at least the semifinals of every important tournament, like the Olympics or the U-17 and U-20 World Cups.
That level is what has made players make the jump to Europe at a younger age, as it’s happened recently with Eugenio Pizzuto, who joined Ligue 1 side Lille OSC and then arrived at Primeira Liga side Sporting Braga, or José Juan Macías, who had a short stint in La Liga side Leganés FC.
Even if they haven’t had the success that they expected, their jump to Europe at a young age has made that other teams and other leagues turn their heads to Liga MX in search of young talents that could turn into superstars with the right planification.
Milan AC, after a Mexican defender
One of the players with more forward projection in Liga MX is Alberto Alcántar, who currently plays for Necaxa’s U-20, although Jaime Lozano, who is used to play with young players, has called up him to the first team on three games, and he even had his debut this season against Cruz Azul.
Alcántar is also part of the Mexican U-20 squad, and his outstanding performances have gathered attention from at least three European teams, including AC Milan, who could use a young player like him, as they are entering a renovation process.
According to sports journalist Mac Resendiz, he could arrive at the Rossoneri club as a free agent, as his contract with Los Rayos expires at the end of the season, something that makes him a more attractive prospect, as they wouldn’t have to pay for his permanent move.
What other teams are pursuing his addition?
The same report has stated that the Serie A team is not the only one interested in the 18-year-old center back, as also Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen and Primeira Liga side SC Benfica have started conversations with Alcántar.
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