Gonzalo Plata – Real Valladolid's undervalued attacking prodigy

Gonzalo Plata was born in Guayaquil as his mother is his inspiration and guide as she owned a restaurant in a neighbourhood, specializing in rice as well as meat and vegetable stew. He is known to take advice from his mother for career moves as well as speaking to her for a whole hour before he plays games. At the age of 11, Plata would leave Guayaquil for Quito to join the LDU Quito academy as he would then move to Sangolqui to join Independiente Del Valle. The 21-year-old represents a slight reinvention of the Independiente Del Valle academy as they studied while previous academy prospects struggled to adjust to European football before implementing changes into their own youth prospects. He moved to Sporting Lisbon where he was educated on making runs into the box, his defensive awareness while he is known to stand over free-kicks with his chest out making deep breaths much like Cristiano Ronaldo.

His career has been a bit of a winding path, moving to Sporting, having a crisis of confidence where he felt like he was not prepared for that level of football in the early months before adjusting. He became a first-team footballer before being relegated to the bench after Ruben Amorim took over as he utilized a 3-4-3 and wanted more of a playmaker type next to his striker in a front three. He would continue to be a key part of the Ecuadorian National Team setup, impressing as a winger before moving on loan to Real Valladolid in the Spanish Second Division this season. He has faced disciplinary issues but has also grown, returning to Ecuador during the winter break, delivering food and other necessities to people in his neighbourhood. On the pitch, he has begun to round out his game, becoming capable of perceptive combination play while his runs, movements in the box and positioning in the attacking line could see him develop into a high-level goalscoring attacker in the near future. His dribbling is still one of his strong suits but the positions he frequently takes up in the box as well as the runs he makes into space to create high quality opportunities will make him an undervalued prospect on the market this summer.

During Amorim’s first season, he received meagre game-time, playing as a wing-back a few times, once at home to Rio Ave. He would be involved in a goal, receiving a Pedro Porro cross to cut-back a cross for Pedro Goncalves as he managed to accrue an assist in a rare start before he cut inside off the flank to roll a pass in behind for Tiago Tomas to have a shot blocked. He views current Ecuadorian National Team Head Coach, Gustavo Alfaro as a father figure as the duo have built a relationship on trust with the player frequently seeking out the coach for advice while the coach has trusted the 21-year-old as a frequent starter since taking charge of the National Team in late 2020. In Alfaro’s first game, away to Argentina, the winger would receive possession, evading a marker before skipping past another as he would be hauled to the ground as Plata had an issue with going to ground at the beginning of his time in Portugal. He then received possession in the centre before switching possession to Pervis Estupinan on the opposite flank as he managed to complete three dribbles in 45 minutes.

In a thrashing of Uruguay a few games later, Plata would receive a through ball from Alan Franco to hold possession and slide the ball past the goalkeeper with impeccable calm. The 21-year-old then received possession in the centre of the pitch, holding possession, to evade two players before shifting past a third when he played a pass to Angelo Preciado. Plata  drove the ball into the centre again while holding off one marker, using his quick feet to turn away from another as the attacker has a brilliant blend of pace, power and skill while being an innate operator in the half-spaces. At home to SD Ponferradina for Real Valladolid, he received possession on the right flank, flicking a pass past a player with his left foot as his teammate would make a run into the wide areas for Plata to make a curved run to the near post where he found a pocket of space and would have been in the perfect position to receive a cut-back at the near post.

Some may see Plata’s lanky body, his quick feet and his penchant for dribbling and believe that he is solely a wide attacker but there is so much more to his game, especially as a build-up conduit and as a connecting player in the final third. He frequently makes well-timed moves into the half-space to receive possession as he would do it during the game to lay-off to a teammate for a switch pass to the flank before making a run to the near post to receive a cross. He then moved into the half-space to receive a lobbed pass from a centre-back, controlling the ball with his chest before turning and prodding a pass to his teammate in the nine-space. During the pressing phase, Plata would be tucked inside with a pass being made to his fullback near the touchline for the Ecuadorian to move the flank and use his body to shield possession from the fullback once he regained possession cleanly to turn and play a pass to a teammate.

After a turnover on the left flank in the opposition half, Plata would tuck into the ten space to receive possession attempting to turn and drive into the box where he lost possession, the ball would then be played to the right flank for the 21-year-old to make a run to the near post before making a blind-sided movement to run into the central area where he was perfectly positioned to receive possession for a tap-in at the top of the six-yard area but a defender stretched to make an interception at the last moment. Plata’s movement has become such a large part of his game as his unmarking movements are exceptional while the little pockets of space that he manoeuvres into in the opposition box are brilliant. He would prove this once more, making a run inside from the right flank while the ball was on the opposite flank, a few yards behind the opposition fullback marking him as once the fullback turned his head to watch the ball, Plata made a movement inside as once his marker realised he had taken up a more central position, Plata was already at the top of the box. Once the opposition centre-back pushed up to engage the man in possession, Plata continued his run to pick up a brilliant position at the top of the box for a through ball, but his teammate decided to shoot instead.

Plata would be positioned closer to the nine-space as the ball would move to the right flank, the 21-year-old would move to the right half-space, taking up a position in between the opposition fullback and centre-back before dropping into a pocket of space as a midfielder pushed up to engage the ball. He received possession to skip past a defender and switch a pass to the left flank before making a run into the box as he planned on making a late vertical run to the near post to receive possession. When possession was on the right flank as Plata was positioned on the left half-space, he then made a movement outside his fullback to stretch the pitch, before making a movement back inside his fullback to receive possession and lay-off a one-touch pass, making a movement into the nine-space as he was about to make a run to the near post to receive possession as his teammate cut the ball back to the top of the box where Real Valladolid lost possession as Plata would make a sliding tackle to regain possession in the counter-press.

Plata’s movement nearly paid off as he finally moved into a position to receive the ball for a clear-cut goalscoring opportunity, moving into the ten space from the right flank, dropping into space to receive possession and work a one-two with a teammate before spreading the ball to a teammate on the left flank where he would make a run to the near post where he received possession and played a cross to a teammate whose opportunity for a tap-in was blocked. The 21-year-old will need to assess these situations better especially in receiving possession in the box as in tight spaces, he frequently looks to control the ball instead of taking the shot first time while in this particular situation, he was not positioned in the width of the goal as he could have allowed the ball to roll across his body, opening his body for a more direct opportunity on goal.

He tucked into the right half-space once more, receiving possession from deep, to turn and lay-off the ball for a teammate to make a run into the half-space where he received a through ball to hold possession and work a one-two with a teammate to create a crossing opportunity. He would utilize a similar sequence, moving into the half-space to receive possession from deep, working a one-two and making a run into the half-space to receive a through ball as he attempted to drive the ball into the box, but he was tackled as he could have released the ball to a teammate in space. Plata would then have an opportunity to make a run in behind while tucked into the nine-space, after his striker made a movement to receive possession, he would start a run in behind in hopes of receiving the ball to have a 1v1 opportunity with the goalkeeper before holding his position and shifting into an onside position where a pass was played behind him into a defender.

The positions he occupies in the half-space and near the nine-space allow him to receive possession in areas where he can transition into creating high level shooting opportunities for himself and teammates. Plata’s runs into the half-space allow him to receive possession in better positions for high quality through ball opportunities or low crossing situations while he can also cut past defenders to have high quality shooting opportunities in the opposition box. For instance, he tucked into the right half-space to receive possession, taking a touch and threading a through ball for a teammate to have a 1v1 opportunity with the goalkeeper saved before Plata would have the rebound saved with a tame shot inside the opposition box. Away to Ibiza, he would continue this routine, tucking into the right half-space to play a one-touch pass to the nine-space. The 21-year-old was then positioned in the nine-space, occupying a centre-back before possession was moved into the centre, the player in the ten space beneath him made a movement into the centre where Plata sought to make a run into the channels as he received possession to utilize a one-touch flick for the player in the ten space to run onto the ball and have a shot saved from inside the box.

Plata repeated the trick, using his occupation of space and movement to create another high-level shooting opportunity for a teammate. This time, he would do it from the left flank, positioned in the left half-space as the ball was switched to the left flank as once the fullback made a run to engage the fullback, he made a run into the half-space, receiving a pass to make a one-touch cut-back to the nine-space as the striker had a shot blocked. He then moved into space to make an interception in the counter-press before switching the ball as he moved to the left half-space as the ball was switched to the fullback, as Plata moved to the wide zone to receive possession, stand his marker up to cut inside before playing a reverse pass into the channels for his fullback to have a cut-back opportunity blocked. He created another crossing opportunity, receiving possession on the right flank to thread a pass to his fullback who crossed into the box for the goalkeeper to catch the cross.

The 21-year-old’s movement and timing of his runs would lead to him having a high-quality opportunity on goal as the ball would be switched to the left flank with Plata positioned in the right half-space, once the ball moved to the left flank, Plata would speed up his run into the box as a cross was squared across the face of goal for the Ecuadorian to meet the ball at the perfect time and position to hammer his strike over the bar when he could have got an opportunity on goal. Plata’s movement and occupation of space also allows him to drag markers out of position, allowing him to open passing lanes and running lanes in the final third as he had a situation where he was tucked into the right half-space, dragging his defender out of position for the striker to make a run into the space behind him as he also cleared space for the player in possession to drive the ball into.

He showed better movement to create a one-touch finishing opportunity inside the opposition box as he started the sequence, dropping deep in the right half-space to receive possession before the ball was switched to the opposite flank. As Real Valladolid transitioned into a cut-back situation, the striker made a deep run towards the six-yard area, dragging a marker with him for Plata to make an intelligent short vertical run into the space he evacuated at the top of the box for a cross into his zone where his run was mis-timed by a second which prevented him from having a simple tap-in. Plata is normally good at speeding up and slowing down his runs to get into good goalscoring positions, but he was unable to speed up his run to get into the perfect position for the tap-in. Plata has developed into the perfect 2-3-5 player, operating in between the lines, holding positions and dropping into spaces to receive the ball, dragging defenders out of position as he is growing into more than a winger. He would prove this as his team were in a 2-3-5 shape with him positioned in the right half-space, Plata dropped in between the lines to receive possession and play a one-touch pass for a teammate to drive the ball forward into the space he vacated.

At home to Real Sociedad B, the ball was progressed on the left flank as Plata tucked inside, dovetailing the striker as the attacker would make a run into the left half-space, the Ecuadorian would then occupy a pocket of space in the 9 space, making a double movement – faking a run into the right channel before holding his position in the central area – to generate a pocket of space where the ball was spread to the wide right zone as he was positioned perfectly at the near post to receive possession and have a one touch opportunity on goal as the ball was played across the face of goal and not cut-back towards him. In the counter-press, Plata would regain possession with an interception, working a one-two with a teammate to make a run into the right half-space and play a cut-back with the outside of his left-boot for a teammate to have a shot on goal. The 21-year-old then received a long ball in the channels, flicking a pass for a teammate in the half-space for the ball to be played back to him as Plata cut past a defender with the outside of his left boot and switched a pass to the opposite flank.

He received possession on the right flank to cut past a defender with the outside of his left boot to curl a shot at goal which was saved. Plata was dovetailing the striker once more as the ball was switched to the left flank an attacker made a run in front of him and his striker at the near post for the attacker to stop his feet as Plata identified a pocket of space in the centre of the box, reacting quickly and speeding up his run to meet a low cross as he took a touch as he lost possession as he could have lashed the ball past the goalkeeper with his stronger left foot on his first touch as his stronger foot was his front foot. Plata’s timing of his runs and positioning is so elite that just under minutes later, he would find himself in a similar position as he was positioned in the nine-space, the ball would be played to the left flank as Plata would begin to make a run to the back-post as once the ball was played to the half-space for a cut-back, Plata would make a dart towards the near post where he would receive the low cross, allowing the ball to roll across his body to take a touch with his right foot before attempting to shoot with his left as his opportunity was blocked. It was another situation where Plata could have adjusted his body and looked to apply the finish first time with his left foot as he could angled both shots into the lower right corner of the goal due to the positioning of the goalkeeper.

The 21-year-old would receive a switch pass on the right flank, standing his marker up and utilizing step overs to shift the ball past his marker with the outside of his right foot, to drive down the by-line and attempt a cut-back with the outside of his left boot. He received possession on the same flank, angling his body sweep the ball past his most direct marker to play another outside of the boot pass into the half-space for a teammate to drive into the box where he was tackled. Plata received possession in the right half-space to lay-off a pass where his teammate was tackled before moving into the wide zone during the free-kick, receiving possession to drive the ball past his marker to drive a cross into the arms of the goalkeeper. He received a switch ball on the right flank to flick a pass to his overlapping fullback to loft a cross into the box before Plata received the rebound and had a shot deflected wide. He received possession on the same flank, making a run into the half-space where he did not receive possession.

Plata is 18th in touches in the opposition box for all players in the Segunda Liga as one of two U23 players in the top 20 as he also played the lowest number of minutes in the top 30. In the touches in the box per 90 metrics, he finishes in the top 10 as the top 15 are all centre forwards while he is the only winger. In 1v1 dribbling, he finishes in the top 10 with a 53% succession rate while he takes 58% of his shots from inside the penalty area. He has an expected goals number of 4.98 from 43 shots as he has scored 6 goals this season, but it would be intriguing to analyse his metrics if he had taken a shot in some of the situations where he made an intelligent run and received the ball in a high-quality area but took a first touch instead of taking the shot with his first touch or the spaces he occupied but did not receive the ball. He has an expected assist number of 3.82 as well as 4 assists as the 21-year-old is in the top 10 in key passes per game as well as being in the top 15 in progressive runs and the top 10 in progressive runs per game. Plata is in the top 20 in deep completions as well as ball progression by runs according to WyScout ranking data.

Plata is certainly a high potential attacker, but his potential could lie in a variety of areas, especially as a roamer of half-spaces, making movements to receive possession in that area, cutting past defenders to create shooting opportunities for himself and teammates. His ability to move, receive possession in between the lines and drive forward make him an essential attacking conduit while in the build-up phase, he can receive possession in the half-space to work one-touch connections. It is key to get him into situations where he can receive possession, connect play as well as only dribble one player to get him into spaces where he can generate high quality opportunities for himself and teammates. He was always known as a high-level dribbler but his occupation of space in the box, movement and timing of his runs could become the most important facet of his game for years to come.

There is the possibility for him to make the evolution into a Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang-like striker with the spaces he occupies, his potential in running in behind as well as his movement and reading of cut-back opportunities within the opposition box. The first aspect of his game that he needs to improve is his one-touch finishing as he leaves a lot of high-quality shots and goals on the table with his inability to finish on the first touch. The most intriguing type of opportunity for him to work on is with cut-back crosses from the left flank where his stronger left foot is his front foot as well as his ability to adapt his body from these deliveries to guide the ball into the bottom right corner of the goal with his left foot. He tends to have a few of these opportunities as the goalkeeper is positioned at the left post which leaves a lot of room at the right corner of the box as he manages to drive the ball into this area, he could generate more goals for himself over the years. He will also need to be more comfortable finishing with his right foot from the top of the box or in the centre as he tends to read these situations and move into these areas but is not as comfortable shooting with his right foot.

We reviewed all of Plata’s 43 shots this season as his heading will also need to improve as throughout the season, his timing of his runs, occupation of space and the way he adapts to movements of teammates, opposition defenders and situations in order to move into high quality areas inside the opposition box is phenomenal. Two of his goals and a few of his opportunities come from rebounds which is no aberration as he frequently takes up positions inside or outside the box to get into the perfect position for lay-offs and rebounds. The way in which he generates shots is very interesting as he generates a high number of shooting opportunities from receiving possession on the right flank to cut inside to evade one defender to get onto his left foot to look to curl shots in at the far post. He scored a goal against Mirandes in this fashion as he has the ability to wrap his foot around the ball from this specific angle is encouraging as he will need to improve the placing of his shots from this area as these sequences add variation to his game as it allows him to shoot from outside the box.

Not only can Plata develop into finishing cut-backs from the left flank with his left foot but also creating opportunities for himself from the right corner of the box with the same foot. He can also generate shooting opportunities from passing connections, working one-twos with teammates to move into pockets of space to shoot as this would allow him to move out of the nine-space to receive possession, evacuating space before taking up a better position or space to apply finishes to attacking sequences. Running in behind is certainly a strength for Plata as he has not been caught offside this season as he times and angles his vertical runs from the wide areas perfectly while when he is in the central areas, he positions himself perfectly while scanning to check his centre-back’s positioning as if he veers into an offside position, he will immediately return into an onside position. This is true in the opposition box as well as if he veers into an offside position after a shot or delivery, he will return into an offside position as this is another facet of his game that makes him good at scoring rebounds. Plata has had sequences where he has made runs in behind, cut past a defender and had a high-quality shooting opportunity as he will need to improve his finishing in 1v1 situations as well. At a higher level with more runs in behind during games, he will be caught offside more but this is another aspect of his game which shows potential.

Plata could be gradually moved into a second-striker role or an inside forward role before eventually being repurposed as a lone striker, this will give him time to improve his heading, one-touch finishing, shooting from the right corner of the box and 1v1 finishing. Real Valladolid have made it clear that they may not intend to sign him for the €15 million purchase fee in his contract while he has a year left on his contract with Sporting. At that €15 million price, he could become the bargain of the summer market as many Premier League teams should be interested in him, especially Arsenal who have been scouring the market for a developmental project to develop as a centre-forward. Fulham would also be a good move for him with the newly promoted attacker looking for a player of his ilk while Southampton under Ralph Hassenhuttl would be an intriguing prospect with Plata being able to play as an inverted winger or second striker. Brighton and Hove Albion are an intriguing prospect as the prospect of him operating on the right the flank with Tariq Lamptey overlapping him and providing width is alluring as would Everton, Leeds United and Brentford. Wolverhampton Wanderers have close ties in Portugal and Plata would certainly fit their playing style as a different profile to many of their attackers. The 21-year-old Ecuadorian is sure to be an intriguing prospect to watch in the summer window as well as in his medium to long-term future.