Joaquín Ardaiz
Full name: Joaquín Matías Ardaiz De Los Santos
Country: Uruguay
Date of birth: 11/01/1999 (18 years old)
Place of birth: Salto (Uruguay)
Height: 186cm
Youth career: Saladero de Salto, Danubio FC (since 2010)
Senior career: Danubio FC, El Tanque Sisley, Danubio FC (loan)
Squad number: 25
Current national team: Uruguay U-20
Position: centre forward
Preferred foot: left
Market value (by transfermarkt.de): 1.000.000 €
Tournaments participated in: 2017 South American Youth Championship (6/2)
Contract until: unknown
Player’s agent: unknown
Transfer rumours: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Liverpool & Porto
Similar type of player: Olivier Giroud
Strengths:
– powerful and accurate finishing 
– physical strength
– heading
– off the ball movement
– instinct 
– long shots
– bravery
– hold-up play 
– charisma
Weaknesses:
– if he improves his ambidexterity he will become even more dangerous
– frequently makes the wrong decision to shoot from difficult angles rather than passing to team-mates in far better positions
Style of play:
– target man/goal poacher
– player with good body mass ratio, physical strength, power, stamina and natural fitness who feels comfortable in contact situations
– powerful and determined forward with killer-instinct, interesting technique on the ball, decent dribbling skills and cleverness at his off-the-ball movements
– possesses impressive powerful and accurate shooting skills with his left foot
– likes to shoot at every opportunity he gets
– likes to play with back to goal
– often uses his strength and aerial presence to bring teammates into play
– indirect set-piece threat
– aerial threat in the opposition box
– generates many flick-ons and passes into the channels for his teammates to utilize
– capable of holding up the ball for teammates to provide them with assists when playing with his back to goal
– able to sniff out a goal in any situation
– often moves deep into midfield and drawing defenders with him, in order to create and exploit spaces for his teammates
– avoids using weaker foot
– dependable option while defending set pieces
He is best suited to playing as:
Centre forward in 4-3-3.
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YReiZp8ltdE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oa1djdXhe_s
Achievements:
2017 South American Youth Championship winner with Uruguay.
League summary (as for 1 April 2017):
Uruguayan Primera División 2015/2016: 11 matches/1 goal (Danubio)
Uruguayan Primera División 2016: 10 matches/3 goals (Danubio)
Uruguayan Primera División 2017 (ongoing): 5 matches/0 goals (Danubio)
Description:
Joaquín Ardaiz is one of the most talented players of Uruguayan generation, that won 2017 South American Youth Football Championship in great style. Others worthy of note include Santiago Bueno, Nicolás De La Cruz, Rodrigo Bentancur, Rodrigo Amaral and Nicolás Schiappacasse. Joaquín made his professional debut for Danubio on 14 February 2016 against CA Cerro. His talent didn’t go unnoticed and he was already linked with some of the best clubs in Europe, including Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Liverpool and Porto.
Quotes:
‘The English and Spanish press have taken it upon themselves to dub Ardaiz ‘the new Luis Suarez’, a comparison that’s only really accurate in that it acknowledges the two are both strikers and were born in the city of Salto, in the north-west of Uruguay. However, they are stylistically different and unlike Suarez, who moved to Montevideo because of his family, Ardaiz moved to Montevideo because of football.‘
(fourfourtwo.com)
Football Talent Scout potential rating:
8/10 
First team material in a top European club.
Links: