Godoy Cruz’ Matias Ramirez should be redeployed as a press resistant midfielder

Matias Ramirez is one of the best ball-progressors not only in the Argentine Primera Division but also amongst all U23 players in South America. The 23-year-old’s wonderful first touch, impeccable close control and beguiling turn of pace allow him to drive the ball over large swathes of the pitch with lung-busting runs while he can also surge into the box, utilizing a wonderful change of direction to leave opposition defenders floored to create opportunities for himself. However, Ramirez is a player that emphasizes the differences between an effective dribbler in the wide areas and being an effective dribbler in the central areas as with a positional interchange, moving him inside from the flank, he could develop into a press-resistant Rodrigo De Paul-like midfielder.

Ramirez is tall and lanky with an imposing frame topped by blonde-highlights as he can evade markers by receiving possession and cutting past a defender to surge into the box, but he does not have the mercurial dribbling ability to be influential in the wide areas. His ball-carrying is better-suited to the central areas as he is constantly aware of his surroundings, making timed blind-sided movements into space in behind a line of opposition pressure to receive possession while when he receives possession, his first touch is prescient, playing one-touch passes to teammates in space before pushing forward to receive the ball while he can contort his body to play progressive passes. The 23-year-old regularly sets himself up to dribble with his first touch, allowing the ball to roll across his body to shield possession and drive the ball away from a marker or to shift the ball towards his body to spin past a marker and drive possession forward. Ramirez’ ball-carrying style is better suited to the central positions rather than the wide positions.

At home to Estudiantes, the 23-year-old tucked inside from the right flank into the half-space to receive possession from Martin Ojeda as he drove the ball into the centre, executing a sudden change of possession to evade a defender to create space for himself as he sent a shot over the bar from range. Despite his game not being fully formed at the moment, Ramirez manages to execute mazy dribbling sequences to create shots with regularity as he can also drive into the box to create high quality shooting opportunities for himself inside the box or to create a yard of space for himself at the top of the box. Due to being positioned on the flank, Ramirez does not touch the ball as much as he should as he received a clearance in the 8 space, controlling the ball with his chest before cutting past two opposition attackers to drive the ball forward and switching a pass to Ojeda on the left flank to create an opportunity.

At home to Platense, he received possession in the left half-space once more, moving towards the flank for a 1v1 situation to cut past the opposition fullback with his right foot before switching to his weaker left foot to lob a cross into the box which was just behind his striker who had his shot blocked. At home to Aldosivi, he made an interception on the left flank, surging into the opposition box to send a shot wide with his weaker left foot. Ramirez created another shot for himself when he received possession on the right flank, driving the ball towards the by-line, skipping past a defender to surge into the box before utilizing a change of direction to evade another marker before he had a shot from inside the box tipped wide. As a central midfielder, Ramirez would thrive in receiving deep passes in between the lines, connecting play and facilitating transition to create opportunities as he exhibited this when he tucked inside from the left flank, using his first touch to direct the ball away from a defender, holding possession to attract markers before playing an outside of the boot pass to a teammate who lobbed a pass into the box for a teammate to have a shooting opportunity.

The 23-year-old had his third dribble and shoot situation as he received a switch on the left flank, using a turn of pace to surge away from a defender, driving into the box to cut past a defender and shift the ball to his stronger right foot where he had a shot saved. At home to Tigre, Ramirez received a switch to the left flank where he cut past a defender to drive the ball into the centre, using a change of direction and nifty feet to skip past another defender to drive the ball into a crossing situation where he had a cross blocked. This sequence was more emblematic of how ill-suited Ramirez can be on the flank as he can receive possession in isolated situations, trying to weave out of tight spaces before being tackled. The Argentine player thrives in situations where he can receive possession, evade his first marker and drive into space to attract more markers before releasing the ball or in situations where he can work quick connections with a teammate to create shooting opportunities for himself.

He proved this when he received possession from the goalkeeper on the right flank where he controlled possession to work a one-two with a teammate before driving into a congested wide zone, being surrounded by four defenders to turn out of the situation and play a pass into the centre for teammate to play a deep pass into the ten space. Ramirez is better suited to a central role in a system where he would have a myriad of passing options to connect with as playing in the wide areas also hinders the young attacker’s ability as a progressive passer. The 23-year-old had another dribble and shooting situation when he made an interception in the pressing phase, surging forward towards the opposition box, skipping past a defender before rolling the ball past a second defender onto his right foot where he had a shot saved. He moved into a central midfield role to receive possession from the left flank, skipping past a defender who he left on the ground before attempting a through ball which was intercepted before pushing forward to regain possession in the counter-press.

Ramirez moved into the centre of the pitch once more to receive possession in between the lines and flick a pass for a teammate to switch the ball as he continued his run into the box, showing that if he played as a box-to-box midfielder, he could work connections and move into space for shooting opportunities. Away to Arsenal de Sarandi, he had a moment where he was positioned on the left flank, receiving possession to evade his marker with an intuitive dummy, using an array of step-overs to stand his defender up before skipping past him to lob a cross into the box for Ojeda to volley past the goalkeeper for a goal. At home to Velez Sarsfield, he received possession on the same flank, this time dropping deep in the build-up phase, allowing the ball to roll across his body and using his first touch to evade a defender, driving into space in the centre as he tried to evade another defender but was tackled. The 23-year-old is press resistant as he can utilize his first touch to evade pressure and drive his team forward as if he was playing in a central role, he would be an essential transitional tool for his team.

He received possession on the left where he drove into the centre, driving past three opposition defenders before attempting a shot which was blocked inside the box. Ramirez loves to work quick passing interchanges, receiving possession and threading possession through to a runner as on the flank, he frequently works these situations to create crossing opportunities for a teammate, but these sequences can also work in the centre as he could work one-twos to create shooting opportunities for himself and teammates. On the left flank, he worked these situations to create a crossing opportunity before he moved in between the lines, to a more central position where he received possession, holding the ball and prodding it backwards before lobbing a reverse pass to Ojeda on the opposite flank which was astray. Another facet of Ramirez’ game that translates into the central positions is his blind-sided movement to receive possession in space as his centre-back was driving the ball forward for the 23-year-old to make an unmarking movement and side-step into a pocket of space, moving towards the flank to receive possession and thread a through ball to a runner who squared a cross for a shot on goal.

Ramirez received possession from a throw-in to skip past a defender before attempting a cut-back which was intercepted. He further showed his dribbling when he drove to the by-line, evading his first marker before skipping past a second marker to drive the ball into the centre of the box into a shooting situation where he poked a pass to a teammate who had a shot blocked. Away to Racing, he received possession on the left flank during a counter attack to play a deep vertical pass into the centre for a teammate to send a shot wide of the far post. Away to Platense, he received possession from a throw-in to angle a perfectly weighted pass into the box for a teammate to cut past a defender and score a goal. The 23-year-old received possession in the right half-space, shielding the ball from his first marker, driving the ball into the centre to attract three markers before playing a pass to a teammate who switched the ball to the left flank while Ramirez moved into the half-space. He received possession in the centre to work a one-two with Ojeda to drive the ball into space before playing a pass to Ojeda in the centre who played a progressive pass to create an opportunity.

After a turnover, Ramirez tucked into the 8 space to receive possession, rolling the ball past an opposition midfielder and surging into space, changing direction to evade another defender to drive the ball towards the edge of the opposition box to spread possession to the wide areas for a cross into the box. He received possession in the eight space once more to play a direct pass down the lines to Ojeda who created a high-quality cut-back situation for a close opportunity on goal. He moved towards the flank to receive possession from a throw-in for a nonchalant flick to Ojeda as his awareness of where he is as well as the movement and positioning of his teammates is sublime. At home to Lanus in the Copa Argentina, he began the game by starting a counter-attack by driving the ball forward and playing a progressive pass before good movements to receive possession, connecting play and driving the ball forward. He nearly scored a goal as well as a pass was deflected into his path, just an inch behind him for him to collect the ball with a sumptuous first touch, poking the ball into his stride before driving a shot past the goalkeeper which was cleared off the line.

The 23-year-old was tucking into the ten space when the ball was on the opposite flank as well as switching wings as in one situation, he received possession, contorting his body to play a progressive pass into the box before receiving possession to launch a tame shot at the goalkeeper. In a central midfield role, Ramirez’ would see more of the ball and be more involved as his close control, turn of pace would allow him to win fouls as there as his ball-carrying is so proficient that at times, defenders just have to foul him. He then received possession from a pressing situation and had a shot on goal before receiving possession on the left flank, skipping past a marker and threading a pass down the line for a crossing opportunity.

In 1v1 dribbling in the Argentine Primera Division, he ranks in the top 20 for the U23 players with the third least minutes in the top 30 as in the per 90 metrics, he ranks in the top 5 of all available players in Argentina as he ranked first for most of the last tournament as he has only player 774 minutes this year. He ranks in the top 30 for through balls per 90 for U23 players as he also ranks in the top 15 for key passes for U23s as well as the top 10 for progressive runs for all players in Argentina. He ranks in the top 25 for deep completions at U23 level while ranking in the top 10 in ball-progression by runs for all players in Argentine Primera Division.

As a ball-carrier, Ramirez is already established as one of the better ball-carriers in Argentina as playing in a central midfield role would harness this skill as he could develop into a high-level transitional conduit for his team. His first touch in tight spaces, penchant for connection play when playing closer to his teammates as well as his willingness to drive into space make him a potential deep-lying playmaker in waiting as these facets of his game are not utilized when he is playing in the wide areas. He tends to be isolated while he can have moments in games where he loses possession, constantly trying to beat his fullback which limits his impact on the team. Playing in the centre would allow him to receive possession more regularly, receive possession in spaces where he could facilitate transition while in the final third, his ball-carrying could be utilized to draw markers and create space for opposition players which could help unlock deep blocks. He would also be allowed to roam into space as he can connect possession from the half-spaces as he seems like a player who would be better suited to connecting play and moving into the wide areas rather than having to move into the central areas to receive possession.

His finishing will need improvement as he tends to miss high quality opportunities inside the box while in the centre, he will receive possession in and around the box more regularly, having the opportunity to receive possession and fashion shooting opportunities for himself or move into space to receive deliveries. It also allows Ramirez to be more hands-on in the creative process as he has already shown that he can play penetrative passes to create opportunities, be it working connections in the half-space, so runners can receive the ball on the flank for crossing situations or working connections in between the lines to create shooting opportunities for himself and teammates. He would thrive at playing the pass before the assist as his vision and penetrative passing has been underutilized as a winger. Ramirez could operate as a box-to-box midfielder next to a midfield destroyer in a 4-2-3-1 or as an interior in a 4-3-3/4-3-1-2 shape as he would be better facing play and connecting play in build-up before moving in between the lines in the opposition half to drop into space, receive connections and orchestrate attacking moves in the centre.

Defensively, Ramirez could develop into an in intriguing transitional tool as he will need to develop his pressing in covering passing lanes in the central positions, understanding pressing triggers in the central areas as well as becoming more focused in the defensive phase. He already regains possession in the wide areas with interceptions as once a turnover is won, the 23-year-old has the ability to recycle possession by driving the ball into the box or attracting opposition players to release the ball into space in order to create shooting opportunities from pressing situations. Defensively, after turnovers, he can also drive the ball forward and play penetrative passing interchanges to establish attacking moves as playing in the centre, will give him more opportunities to provide penetration with his distribution as he will receive possession in areas that are better tailored to his skillset.

Ramirez came through the youth academy at Ferril Carril Oeste as he has only been playing in the Argentine Primera Division for a year which makes his progress over that period of time, all the more impressive. His current contract with Godoy Cruz expires in 2023 as he is not a starter with their multitude of talented attacking players, making him an undervalued prospect in the market. Serie A would be the perfect league for his talent as a few clubs utilize the 4-3-3/4-3-1-2 system or a version of a three-man midfield formation as he would thrive as interior at Empoli, Sassuolo, Fiorentina, Lazio, Spezia, Sampdoria and Cagliari while Bologna and Udinese would also be good places for him to develop. Stuttgart may switch to a 4-3-3 this year as this system and the fast-paced, transition nature of the Bundesliga could also prove to be fruitful for his development while at Feyenoord, he would be a good replacement for Orkan Kokcu while adding some penetration to the deep blocks that Arne Slot may face in the Eredivisie. La Liga and the Segunda Liga would also prove to be a good step-up for him as Rayo Vallecano, Granada, Real Sociedad, Celta Vigo and Las Palmas would be good moves. In Portugal, teams like Santa Clara, Vizela, Vitoria and Familicao would prove to be good moves as in France, teams like Toulouse, RC Lens, Brest, Toulouse, Reims and Nice could aid in his development as his style would also suit that league particularly well. In South America, Cruzeiro under Paulo Pezzolano as well as Red Bull Bragantino under Mauricio Barbieri would be good landing spots for him. There’s the possibility for Ramirez to evolve into an elegant deep-lying midfield playmaker in the coming years as despite his meagre minutes, it would be important for clubs to recognise that if he played in a position better tailored to his skillset, he would begin to thrive.