Why Watford should start pursuing an interest in River Plate star Pity Martinez
Pity Martinez was on target for River Plate as the Argentinian outfit got the better of their rivals Boca Juniors in the final of the Copa Libertadores at the Santiago Bernabeu last week.
A product of the Huracan youth system, Gonzalo Martinez, who is widely known as Pity Martinez, joined River Plate back in 2015 and has established himself as one of the hottest properties in the Argentine top flight. The 25-year-old playmaker has scored 22 goals from 95 appearances for his club in the league.
Martinez’s heroics on the domestic front earned him a call-up to Argentina’s national team a couple of months back. He scored from the penalty spot on his debut against Guatemala and the fans have every reason to expect a lot more from the rising young playmaker in the days to come.
A technically-gifted, fast, agile and skilful attacker, Martinez is known for his creativity in the attacking third. Essentially a central attacking midfielder tailor-made for the No. 10 role behind the striker, Martinez has also been used as a wide forward on either flank.
The 25-year-old combines his wonderful technique with sharpness and agility on the ball to create space for himself in the final third. Blessed with blistering pace, Martinez’s lightning acceleration coupled with his ability to switch gears and change directions in the blink of an eye make him a nightmare for the defenders.
In other words, he can change the whole complexion of the game in a matter of minutes and has that X-factor to bring life into a completely toothless attack.
Another impressive thing about him is his mobility in the final third. He doesn’t remain confined to a central role but often drifts wide to work the spaces between the defenders using his silky dribbling skills and agility to make things happen.
Martinez has the ability to cut inside from the right on to his stronger left foot, drawing the defenders out from their positions and making space for himself to pull the trigger. Furthermore, he is a player with good vision and often sets up goals for his teammates with intelligent passes.
To put things into perspective, Watford should table a bid for the Argentinian playmaker in January to add more firepower to their attack. The Hornets made a bright start to their Premier League campaign but have lost momentum midway through the season.
A 3-2 victory over Cardiff City last week propelled Watford to 10th in the standings but Javi Gracia’s men still have plenty of room for improvement if they are to finish in the top ten.
In Roberto Pereyra and Gerard Deulofeu, Watford have two high quality technically gifted attackers who have been heavily involved in whatever they have achieved this season. However, Javi Gracia has been forced to field Ken Sema on the right in recent weeks to cover for the absence of Will Hughes.
Both the aforementioned players haven’t been convincing enough this season and someone like Martinez would definitely be an upgrade.
The Argentinian playmaker ticks all the boxes to be a perfect fit for the Hornets and they should start keeping tabs on him ahead of the January transfer window.