Sebastián Pérez Cardona

Sebastián Pérez
Personal information
Full name Sebastián Pérez Cardona
Date of birth (1993-03-29) 29 March 1993
Place of birth Envigado, Colombia
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Atlético Nacional
Number 24
Youth career
Atlético Nacional
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2011– Atlético Nacional 108 (2)
National team‡
2011–2013 Colombia U20 16 (0)
2015– Colombia U23 3 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 29 October 2015.
† Appearances (goals)

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 15 November 2015

Sebastian Perez Cardona (born March 29, 1993) is a Colombian footballer who plays for Colombian club Atlético Nacional.[1][2] He is noticeably the youngest player to be part of a senior squad that won the Liga Postobón at only 18 years of age in 2011.[3]

He is known for his abilities to react quickly in any given situation. Credited from his experiences playing both a defensive and attacking midfield role. At his club Nacional, he is often referenced as a highly rated top prospect in Colombia.[4][5]

Club career

Atlético Nacional

On 4 March 2011, Perez made his official debut for Nacional against Atlético Junior replacing Macnelly Torres in the 86th minute. Perez would eventually win the 2011 Torneo Apertura with Los Verdolagas making him the youngest player to win the honour at age 18. The following year, he was part of the Nacional squad that won both the Copa Colombia and the Superliga Colombiana, thus winning every top tier trophy in Colombia before age 20.[6][7]

Following Colombia's exit from the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup, he was invited to Arsenal for a trial in August.[8] He came on as a sub in the 67th minute for Arsenal's friendly against Manchester City wearing the number 32 jersey. Arsenal went on to win the game 3-1. Despite only playing for 26 minutes, Perez was praised for his natural abilities despite being so young. Arsene Wenger stated that he was impressed with Perez during the week trial and decided to add him in the game.[9] Despite impressing both the London club and its fans, Perez was unable to get a work-permit because 'he had yet to play at least 75% of Colombia's international matches'. Thus, he was sent back to Nacional.[10] Despite this, Wenger claimed that he would continue monitoring Perez until an opportunity to sign him comes.[11][12]

International career

Pérez first represented the U20 Colombian National team in 2011 where he took part in the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup that took place in his home land. He was then recalled for the 2013 South American Youth Championship where Colombia eventually won the championship and qualified for the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup. There, Perez would give impressive performances, attracting the likes of top European teams.[13][14][15]

Style of play

"In European football, I admire Éver Banega, Fernando Gago, Sergio Busquets, Xavi, Xabi Alonso and Andrea Pirlo, I am excited about playing in Europe. I want to go there and try to make it, but I am driven by those I grew up with. They had the same dreams as me, but perhaps not the same talent. There's luck involved, but also a lot of discipline. You need that to make the most of the talent you have."

Perez speaking of his opportunity with a trial at Arsenal and his inspirations that led to his playing style.[16]

Perez was an amateur footballer before joining Nacional in 2011, and yet was considered to be a 'pure natural talent' by the Colombian club.[4] Often, Perez is a well-known versatile player mostly because of his equal footing levels with both left and right feet, as well as carrying 'panoramic vision' as shown through his countering attacking with very accurate passing. Despite committing to a defensive midfielder most of the time, Perez has shown that he is capable of shooting on-target goals from great distances.[17][14] Perez is often regarded very high by many top teams such as Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain because of his potential, led to being almost being signed by each respective club at one point.[18][19][20]

Perez also spoke that committing to a defensive midfielder (as well as an overall midfielder in general) role throughout most of his games, was because of his admiration for Xavi, Xabi Alonso and Andrea Pirlo, that inspired him to make a difference in both defending and attacking. One of the reasons why Perez is often seen as a crucial player in counter-attacking.[5]

Honours

Club

Atlético Nacional

International

References

  1. ↑ "Sebastián Pérez Cardona - Goal.com". Goal.com. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  2. ↑ "Sebastin Prez". Footballzz.com. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  3. ↑
  4. 1 2 "Arsenal transfers: Spotlight on the Colombian set to go on trial at the Emirates". talkSPORT. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  5. 1 2 Chris Beattie. "Why Arsenal have handed trials to Atletico Nacional starlet Sebastian Perez". Tribal Football. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  6. ↑
  7. ↑ "Sebastián Pérez". Fichajes .com: Noticias y rumores sobre el mercado de fichajes de fútbol. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  8. ↑ "Arsenal take Sebastian Perez on trial". Sports Mole. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  9. ↑ "Trialist Sebastian Perez features in Arsenal friendly win - what do the fans think?". Here Is The City. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  10. ↑ "Arsenal's Perez deal hits major hitch - Deal now off?". Here Is The City. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  11. ↑ "Sebas Pérez: "Arsenal me seguirá de cerca"". Fox Sports. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  12. ↑ "Ingrata pero provechosa experiencia en el Arsenal". Elcolombiano.com. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  13. ↑ "Porto want Arsenal trialist Sebastian Perez - report". Here Is The City. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  14. 1 2 "Arsenal transfer news: Arsenal hand trial to Sebastian Perez ahead of possible summer transfer - Metro News". Metro. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  15. ↑
  16. ↑ "Colombian Starlet Aims to Impress Arsenal Coaches After Earning Trial". International Business Times UK. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  17. ↑ "YouTube". Youtube.com. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  18. ↑ Administrator. "Arsenal hand Under 20 World Cup star a trial - Transfer News". TheSportsCampus.com. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  19. ↑ "Transfer Rumors 2013 - Arsenal Might Sign Sebastián Pérez - Sportige". Sportige.com. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  20. ↑ "Colombian Starlet Aims to Impress Arsenal Coaches After Earning Trial". International Business Times UK. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
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