Deep-lying playmakers are dying breeds in the world of football, especially ones with the skill set of Cesc Fàbregas. The significance of his departure has had on Chelsea has been stark, as Fàbregas is the only squad member trusted by Maurizio Sarri to deputise for Jorginho.
Similarly, Paris Saint-Germain have been struggling with injuries and a shortage in midfield. This prompted the rumour mill shift into overdrive with Allan, Idrissa Gueye and Renato Sanches linked with the Parisian club. However, PSG have today announced the arrival of a new midfielder who was initially linked with a move to Chelsea. Their chosen man is Zenit St Petersburgs Argentine playmaker Leandro Paredes.
Paredes has spent this season so far in the Russian Premier League for Zenit St Petersburg. At 24 years old, the Argentine has a wealth of experience having made 113 appearances in his career spanning across the globe with Boca Juniors, Roma, Empoli, Chievo, and Zenit.
Born in San Justo Argentina, Paredes came through the youth setup of Boca Juniors and made his first-team debut at 16, before going on to play for three seasons. His performances warranted enough promise for Roma to bring him to Italy but with a shortfall of non-EU spots left to accommodate him, he was oaned out to Chievo for six months before finally landing in the Italian capital.
His first season at Roma saw him as a squad player but another loan spell, this time to Empoli, established him as a top defensive midfielder. The following season saw him become the lynchpin in the heart of Roma’s midfield leading them to a second-place finish, four points behind Juventus. Luciano Spalletti used him in a holding role in midfield at Roma, allowing him the chance to dictate the tempo of the game while shielding the defence.
“Its a position I feel comfortable in, Im trying to get used to it. Im sure I can learn loads by playing alongside [Daniele] De Rossi.”
The following season saw Roberto Mancini prioritise Paredes’ signing at Zenit, which at the time was seen as a lateral move. As a result, he faded away and missed out on a World Cup squad place.
Paredes’ performances have reinginted interest from Europe’s elite and it seems to be the right time for him to experience Europe’s top leagues once again. In this analysis, I will examine the qualities Leandro Paredes brings to Paris Saint-Germain.
Leandro Paredes: the pass master
Leandro Paredes is a natural regista whose ability as a passer is exceptional. Classified as a classic number five, Paredes collects, distributes and recycles possession economically. Playing in this position requires precise positioning and intelligence. The regista’s role is to create time and space with their incredible ball skills and vision for their teammates.
Paredes’ positioning and passing enables him to create time to find openings in the opposition lines of defence. With Maurizio Sarri looking at Paredes as a potential backup to Jorginho, it only makes sense to compare both players to see if PSG are buying a player worthy of the move.
Granted, the level of competition in the Russian Premier League isn’t as immense as the English Premier League, but we’ve seen glimpses of his potential during his stint at Roma. Playing with better quality players can vastly improve the 24-year-old quickly, especially given his midfield partner is Marco Verratti.
The Argentine’s passing ability is more than just short, recycled passes, but also the ability to play long-ranged passes and through-balls to stretch the opposition. David Luiz is often seen dribbling out of defence to play 70-yard diagonal passes to Eden Hazard or Willian catching the opposition off-guard. Paredes has an incredible ability to scan the pitch and offer a similar outlet.
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