Moises Caicedo – Independiente Del Valle’s midfield prodigy
Moises Caicedo is still only 18-years-old but is regarded as one the most highly regarded midfield talents on the South American continent, already garnering serious interest from AC Milan and Feyenoord. Earlier this year, the teenager was in Asuncion, Paraguay preparing for an U20 Copa Libertadores match when he received a phone call from his manager, Miguel Angel Ramirez to inform him that he would need to fly back to Ecuador as he had been promoted to the first team and would be in contention for a first-team match. The Ecuadorian midfielder has also made the step up to the Ecuadorian senior side as his career is on an upward trajectory.
The 18-year-old who will turn 19 next month, idolises N’Golo Kante and models his game after the Frenchman, seeking to be a multi-functional midfielder who is involved in play in the deeper areas as well as in the final third. The Ecuadorian media have taken to calling him the ‘Ecuadorian Kante’ as he also seeks the advice of teammate, Cristian Pellerano who is 20 years his senior and has had a distinguished career in the Argentine Superliga and Mexico’s Liga MX. He hails from Santo Domingo as he returned to the city during the COVID-19 lockdown in Ecuador to train and be close to his family as he had begun to make inroads to the first team after winning the U20 Copa Libertadores. He dreams of playing for Manchester United as he has knuckled down on his English classes at the education system at Independiente Del Valle’s academy while he has a good head on his shoulders, finishing his schooling while he thrived as a Mathematics student.
“The times I've played with him, he guides me a lot. I am happy with him because he has helped me to improve myself day by day,” said Caicedo to Futbol Ecuador in April about his mentor, Pellerano whom he refers to ‘Don Pellerano’..
In the U20 Copa Libertadores, he split minutes at the base of midfield with Marco Angulo as he would allow his teammate to push into the final third while Caicedo had the quick feet to evade pressure after receiving possession from his centre-backs while playing progressive passes to teammates in between the lines. His directional first touch, sense for when to turn out of pressure and physical abilities stood out as another Independiente Del Valle youth product, Alan Franco was in the process of making a move to Jorge Sampaoli’s Atletico Mineiro. Independiente Del Valle needed a replacement, so they promoted Caicedo who moved from a deeper role to playing as a box-to-box midfield conduit who will sometimes be positioned in the nine-space or dovetail off the striker.
In a home match against Macara, he showed his ability in dovetailing the striker when he received a pass in midfield to lob the ball to Gaby Torres who laid off for his midfielder to strike past the keeper from range. Moises Caicedo who goes by ‘Moi’ to his friends and family is so intelligent at connecting play in the final third. His first touch is always measured as he can work one-twos and make runs off the striker into the box while also having the vision to switch the ball to the weak side. It is rare to see an 18-year-old so poised in the way he approaches the game as he is innate with his decision making in the final third. He is always an option to receive the ball in between the lines while he can move into the nine space when Torres drops deep as he creates opportunities for teammates with one-twos around the box and little lay-offs for attackers to have shooting opportunities.
In the Copa Libertadores at home to Flamengo, Luis Segovia played some impeccable passes through to Caicedo in between the lines as the duo nearly worked a combination that led to Torres having the opportunity to run in behind. Segovia then found Caicedo with another delightful ball for the midfielder to lay-off for Torres to spread the ball before Beder Caicedo worked a pass into the centre which Moises Caicedo dummied for Torres to direct a pass through to the 18-year-old who finished with aplomb to open the scoring. Caicedo would then receive a pass in between the lines to swivel and play through Fernando Guerrero who drove into the box to attempt a cut-back which was cleared.
Torres and Caicedo then worked another combination where Torres did well to hold the ball and play a pass to Caicedo who drove through and subtly lobbed a pass back to Torres who took a touch and bent a shot past the keeper as the 31-year-old Panamanian striker and the 18-year-old Ecuadorian midfielder both notched a goal and an assist in the first half. Caicedo can be such a vital conduit in attacking play, even in wide combinations as he is a terrific one-touch passer, constantly scanning and looking for runs as he can work passes into runners in the channels. Caicedo’s a physically well-built midfielder but also has incredibly quick feet, working connections, twisting and turning out of pressure while also gliding past opponents.
The 18-year-old has also played at the base of midfield and in the middle of a back three this season as against Aucas, he was constantly pushing up and dropping deep to move into space and attract opposition pressure. He did well turn away from pressure to drive the ball with his right foot before playing a pass to the right flank with his left. Caicedo dropped into the six-space to receive the ball when the goalkeeper was in possession as he showed his press resistance as a passer and dribbler. In once situation, he dropped into the six-space to flick a pass to the right-back with his back turned to the opposition goal as he proved efficient in starting attacks while he dropped into the left centre-back position to block a shot. Despite being the best player on the pitch, he conceded a penalty when he went to ground to make a tackle as a cross bobbled off his outstretched hand.
Caicedo was not deterred by this moment as he soon regained possession on the left side of the box to turn away from pressure and thread a pass in between the lines to start a counter. He then received the ball from the keeper, tried to dribble out of pressure before working a pass to Richard Schunke who drove forward and tried to lob for Edson Montano to get in behind, but he was blocked off. Against Portoviejo, he was deployed in between the two centre-backs in order to allow the side to push their fullbacks higher while allowing Segovia to drive into midfield. The 18-year-old strode forward to work a combination with a fullback to then drive into the opposition half to lay-off for a teammate to have a strike cannon off the post. He also worked passing interchanges with Lorenzo Faravelli to beat the first wave of pressure.
From a defensive standpoint, the 18-year-old retained his focus as Portoviejo to play a pass in behind for goalkeeper, Wellington Ramirez who came out and was beaten as Caicedo used some clever and instinctive defending to make a block before clearing the ball from danger. Caicedo is a strong tackler, being aggressive assured in the tackle, regaining possession and driving the ball forward. Caicedo has the potential to be a high-level two-way player as he shows defensive focus and resolve while being able to drive the ball, receive passes in between the lines while working connections in the final third to create chances for himself and teammates.
Recently, Moises Caicedo made his International debut against Argentina playing from the start as he played as an interior while also dropping deep to receive possession from the centre-backs while leading the high press alongside Enner Valencia. It was a tight game where Ecuador struggled to create chances but Caicedo showed glimmers of potential as he worked a connection on the right flank to switch the ball to Pervis Estupinan on the left while he was also involved in creating an opportunity on the left. Mena worked the ball to Estupinan who played a pass for Caicedo in the half-space as the teenager elegantly threaded through for Mena to have a shot on goal.
Caicedo would then make his second appearance with the Ecuadorian National Team against Uruguay, establishing himself as arguably the best teenage player in South America. He was constantly stringing things together by dropping into the six-space to receive possession. He then opened the scoring when Ecuador worked a short corner routine which led to Angel Mena lobbing a cross onto Caicedo’s head for the slightest touch. The 18-year-old nearly had a second goal was played to Mena who crossed for Caicedo to head wide at the near post. Caicedo dominated the midfield as he won two aerial duels against Rodrigo Bentancur and Fede Valverde while he also made timely challenges in the 4-4-2 press. The youngster is in a fledgling stage of a fruitful partnership with Carlos Gruezo as the 25-year-old would win possession for Caicedo to work passes through to runners on the counter.
He was masterful in his press resistance for a player so young as he turned away from pressure and played passes through the lines, frustrating a battle-hardened Uruguayan side. He created an opportunity when he poked a pass to Enner Valencia with the outside of his boot in a wide combination for the striker to smash wide. In the second-half, he played Renato Ibarra in behind with a curling through ball for him to send a shot wide. The midfielder went off with a cramp after he regained possession from Luis Suarez with well-timed sliding challenge before skipping past one Uruguayan midfielder to be fouled by another. It was truly an N’Golo Kante-like performance from the 18-year-old prodigy.
Caicedo is on pace to become a key player for club and country in his teens as National Team Head-Coach, Gustavo Alfaro was very impressed with his debut and believes in giving young players opportunities with the National Team. At club level, Miguel Angel Ramirez asked him to give him his Ecuadorian National Team shirt to commemorate the special moment between the two. More International appearances can only be good for him as it allows him to gain work visa in the United Kingdom while teams outside the English Premier League will be registering their interest and looking to purchase him. He is certainly a youngster that could lead a talented Ecuadorian generation at club and International level.
