For all his questionable domestic dealings Steve Bruce has garnered a reputation as a shrewd operator in the Latin American market in recent years and that trend has continued this summer with the acquisitions of Cristian Riveros and Marcos Angeleri in the build up to the new Premier League season.
Paraguay international Riveros, 27, has been erroneously described as a right winger in the English press, but is in fact a classic box-to-box midfielder, just as comfortable harassing opposition midfielders as he is breaking beyond them to provide further options in the attacking third. His average of one goal for every six and a half games played is not truly reflective of his ability to correctly time supporting runs into the box, and in a league that historically favours wing play he looks well placed to improve on that ratio in the coming years.
Sunderland supporters had an opportunity to get a glimpse of what awaits them during the World Cup where Riveros was highly impressive, scoring an excellent goal from the edge of the area against Slovakia and working tirelessly in midfield throughout the tournament. Strong in possession and a good striker of the ball off either foot, the Paraguayan has all the necessary attributes to be a success in England.
Bruce is said to have been tracking Riveros since his time in charge of Wigan and will be delighted to have secured him on a free transfer from Mexican side Cruz Azul having previously been quoted a €12M fee for his services. Come the end of the season there could well be a few other Premier League managers lamenting their decision not to rival Bruce for his signature.
The same could be true of Argentine right back Marcos Angeleri, signed for an undisclosed fee from reigning South American champions Estudiantes. Angeleri, 27, missed out on the majority of Estudiantes’ successful Copa Libertadores campaign through injury, but was a key component in the side that reached the final of the 2008 Copa Sudamericana – a loose Europa League equivalent – bombing up and down the right flank.
Tall, powerful and pacey, he has all the characteristics one would expect of an attacking full back with the added bonus that he usually makes good decisions once he gets into the final third. To describe him as Alan Hutton with a brain is perhaps a tad harsh on the Scotland international Sunderland had on loan last season, but is nevertheless a fairly good indication of what to expect.
Linked with moves to Spain and Italy before his injury layoff, Angeleri has made a solid return to the Estudiantes side since the turn of the year and was unlucky not to be named in Diego Maradona’s World Cup squad, especially considering Argentina’s lack of quality alternatives in his position. Given time to adapt to the pace of the English game and a tactical framework that gives him license to get forward, Angeleri is well placed to make a positive impact.
In January, Bruce was also credited with an interest in Angeleri’s former Estudiantes team-mate Mauro Boselli, with reports in the Argentine press suggesting that a deal was close to being agreed. However, it failed to come to fruition and with the summer approaching it was in fact Wigan who sneaked in to seal a £6.5M deal for the 25-year-old striker.
Boselli began his career at Boca Juniors, but after failing to extricate himself from the perpetual shadow of Martin Palermo moved to Estudiantes in search of regular first team football. It proved to be an inspired move. 32 goals in 57 games and a Copa Libertadores winners medal followed, with Boselli instrumental to that success, finishing as top goalscorer and chipping in with a vital double in the second leg of their semi-final as well as grabbing the goal that clinched it in the final itself.
In his limited playing time at Boca Juniors Boselli looked decidedly average, but has improved immensely since joining Estudiantes and is now calmer in front of goal and more adept in holding up the ball and bringing team-mates into play. Astute movement has also been added to his game. That said, he does rely on quality service and without what is arguably the best midfield in South America behind him to provide that, may struggle to make such an impact in a middling Premier League team where chances will be that much rarer.
