He's not the 'new Lionel Messi', but a very talented boy - why Valencia's signing of Pablo Piatti could be a masterstroke

Posted Friday, July 08, 2011 by Goal.com

He’s not ‘the new Messi’, but he’s a very talented boy; left-footed and now a full international for Argentina, Pablo Piatti is an explosive forward built in a similar mould to Barcelona’s brilliant forward but he hasn’t quite lived up to the billing just yet. Now, after completing his signing for Valencia this week, he has another chance to prove his abilities on an established stage.

Piatti emerged as a precocious talent as one of the leading lights in the impressive Estudiantes side that went on to claim the Copa Libertadores in 2009. By then, though, the fleet-footed forward had swapped La Plata for La Liga, becoming Almeria’s most expensive-ever signing.

At around €8 million (£7.1m), it looked a bargain – especially when Madrid-based sports daily AS dubbed the player ‘the new Messi’. In light of that comparison, Piatti’s reflection was a sensible one: “Messi is a mirror in which to look and there is no way I can be compared with him.” Back then, though, there were more similarities between the two players than perhaps there are now.

Capable of bursting into the area with a sharp turn of pace, leaving an opponent grounded with an outrageous slice of skill, scoring goals and thrilling fans in equal measure, Piatti at 19 looked capable of becoming a huge star. Back then, of course, pre-Pep Messi was already a star, although not quite the world-wowing sensation he has become since playing under Guardiola. He was one of the best; now he is the best. “Leo is a great player and I'm still growing,” Piatti had said. But while Messi grew, Piatti failed to realise his full potential.

Much of that was to do with his club, however. Playing for Barcelona is very different to playing for Almeria, as the Catalans’ 8-0 away thrashing of the Andalusians last season will testify. Messi has encountered such problems with Argentina, struggling to shine due to the players around him. But this season, while Almeria flounced, Piatti blossomed, enjoying his finest campaign in Europe yet as he netted eight times in his side’s ultimately unsuccessful bid to avoid relegation. Perhaps he is finally growing up.