Recent Watford Signing Juan Hernandez Dubbed 'Colombia's Most Exciting Talent' After Huesca Move
Watford's newest recruit Juan Hernandezhas recently been confirmed as a Huesca player after being shipped out on loan, and the young striker could be one to look out for in the future after receiving glowing references in his native Colombia.
The 18-year-old earned a move to Vicarage Road after a number of promising displays for America de Cali, despite his tender years. Now British journalist Carl Worswick believes he could could make a name for himself in Europe before too long, as quoted by the Watford Observer.
"From my experiences of watching Colombian football for the past six years, I believe he's one of the most exciting talents to come through," claimed Worswick.
He previously spent a spell in Europe with Granada, but it ended prematurely thanks to limited experiences with the first team, so Hernandez was sent back to South America for a guarantee of more playing time. The precocious talent featured for Colombia in the U20 South American championship in January, where he stood tall despite a poor team performance.
"Colombia were really poor at the U20s and the manager was sacked straight after they were eliminated, but Hernandez probably stood out as their best player," added Worswick.
Uruguay's player Mathias Olivera (L) vies for the ball with Colombia's player Juan Camilo Hernandez during their South American Championship U-20 football match at the Olimpico Atahualpa stadium in Quito, Ecuador on February 5, 2017. / AFP / JUAN CEVALLOS (Photo credit should read JUAN CEVALLOS/AFP/Getty Images)
JUAN CEVALLOS/GettyImages
"He finished the campaign with a couple of man-of-the-match performances. America actually wanted to keep him until December but, having now turned 18, was now eligible to play in Europe."
This alerted Watford to his potential, as they continue to scour South America for hidden gems such as Hernandez. He will be unable to participate in the English top-flight until he has obtained a work-permit, so the attacking midfielder will spend the next few seasons in Spain.
