From Tears to Triumph: Moises Caicedo, the Sought-After Midfielder Targeted by Top Premier League Clubs

After his country's disappointing exit from the World Cup, while his fellow players were enjoying luxurious vacations, Moises Caicedo returned to his roots in Santa Domingo, Ecuador. He played in a local tournament on the very same dusty pitch where he first started playing soccer as a child. Videos of the rising Premier League star went viral in Ecuador, showing him scoring again, but this time as a member of Caicedos FC, a team comprised of his extended family. Notably, Caicedo had just become Ecuador's youngest scorer in a World Cup.

"He scored the winning goal for Caicedos FC in the tournament amidst ramshackle surroundings. His celebration included a leap, a fist pump, and a gesture of recognition towards the few hundred spectators who were sitting or leaning on fences around the pitch," says Miguel Angel Ramirez, Caicedo's former coach at his boyhood club Independiente del Valle with a smile. "Meet Moises, who always remembers his roots and returns to his village to play football, help his family and friends, and support his community."

Ramirez confirms that Caicedo's main motivation has always been to support his family, given that he is the youngest of 10 siblings. His ultimate goal was to provide them with a better life by acquiring a better home and a car for all of them. Football was his passion, and being able to achieve this goal through the sport made it even more fulfilling for him. It is evident that Caicedo has achieved his objective.

He accomplished his goal of moving to Europe at the age of 19, making a £4.5m transfer from Independiente del Valle to Brighton. In just two years, he has become one of the most sought-after young talents in the Premier League, valued at over £70m. Despite his impressive composure and maturity on the field, his jubilant celebration in Santa Domingo reveals a youthful innocence that still lingers. In Ecuador, he is fondly referred to as 'Niño Moi', which translates to 'The Kid Moi' in English.

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Ramirez has a special affection for Moises Caicedo, having coached him since his days in the youth academy of Independiente del Valle. He even took over as coach of the senior team in 2019, and admires Caicedo not only for his skill on the field, but for his youth and potential.

During training, there were moments where he cried in response to my aggression, turning his back to hide his tears. However, when it came to being separated from his family, who lived three hours away from his club's headquarters in Sangolqui, Caicedo struggled to control his emotions.

Ramirez remembers a time when Moises was injured and asked to go home to celebrate his birthday. However, Ramirez declined the request, explaining that as a professional player, there are no off days and Moises needed to focus on recovering and getting back to the game as soon as possible. Ramirez emphasized that once you join a big club, you cannot simply request time off to celebrate personal events.

Ramirez chuckles as he recalls the incident, "He was crying like a baby while cycling in the gym." Although Ramirez's firm stance was meant to teach Caicedo a lesson, it was primarily due to the player's significance to the team, similar to Brighton's stance during Arsenal and Chelsea's bid for him in January.

At a young age, he already possessed an exceptional talent that allowed him to contribute to both Independiente's U20s and Ramirez's senior team. During the U20 Copa Libertadores in Paraguay in 2020, he even made frequent trips back to Ecuador to play for the senior team. Ramirez acknowledges his importance for both teams and recalls the hectic schedule of him playing for the U20s, then flying back to Quito to compete in the Ecuadorian league, and then returning to the Libertadores.

Caicedo quickly made a name for himself in the senior Libertadores, the South American equivalent of the Champions League, with his impressive performances against Brazilian powerhouse Flamengo. "He garnered attention from all over the world," remembers Ramirez. "Big clubs began taking notice."

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Moises Caicedo excelled for Independiente del Valle in the 2020 Copa Libertadores

Caicedo's versatility was a key factor in attracting interest from Brighton as well as Premier League giants Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United. Despite coming through Independiente del Valle's academy as a No 6, he was able to adapt to playing further forward as a No 8 under Ramirez's guidance. Ramirez credits the influence of Cristian Pellerano, an exceptional No 6 and coach on the pitch, for helping Caicedo develop and understand the game even more.

"But we still wanted to play with Pellerano as No 6, so, if we wanted Moises in the team, he had to play as a No 8."

Happily, it worked out perfectly.

Ramirez acknowledges that during that period, they came to the realization that Moises was more effective as a No. 8 in the game. This is because he possessed the skillset to score goals, make the final pass, make runs into the box, and was assertive in applying the initial pressure. "He gradually became aware of the role and its demands. It is a challenging position as it requires playing in tight spaces and with limited time. One has to adjust their body position before receiving the ball and be well-informed. With experience, he acquired these abilities."

Caicedo expressed his preference of playing as a No 8 rather than a No 6 to Ramirez, who is currently managing Sporting Gijon in Spain. This showcases his adaptability and versatility, which he has also demonstrated at Brighton.

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Moises Caicedo's position changed following Roberto De Zerbi's arrival

Throughout the season, Graham Potter utilized him as a left-sided No 8 and experienced great success. This came after a first year of transition, which included a loan spell in Belgium with Beerschot. However, Roberto De Zerbi, who replaced Potter, moved him to the base of midfield and even played him as a makeshift right-back on occasion. Caicedo excelled in these various positions, starting in 34 of Brighton's 38 Premier League games and playing a pivotal role in the club's most successful season to date. His impact in both possession and out of possession is highlighted by his impressive statistics.

He is an exceptional ball-winner and one of the top performers in his division. Caicedo's quick and combative nature allows him to always be alert to potential dangers on the field. This season, he proved himself as a top performer, ranking second for both tackles and interceptions behind only Joao Palhinha and Declan Rice respectively. Additionally, Caicedo was only surpassed by Rice and Rodri for winning possession in the middle third of the field.

That diligent off-the-ball effort not only provided protection to Brighton's defense but also facilitated their ability to gain control by promptly regaining possession. Caicedo played an equally crucial role in their offensive strategy.

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Moises Caicedo is influential on and off the ball for Brighton

Caicedo had an outstanding season with his impressive number of touches on the ball, ranking among the top seven players in the Premier League. His passing ability was also noteworthy, with only five players completing more passes than him, including big names like Van Dijk and Rodri. What's even more remarkable is his accuracy rate of 89 per cent, especially when you take into account the newly-available data that reveals only two players made more pressured passes than him - Rodri and Bruno Guimaraes of Newcastle.

Retaining possession even under immense pressure is one of the many skills that Moises Caicedo developed while playing in Ecuador, and this is just one of the reasons why he comes with a hefty price tag. While some may consider it overpriced, those who are familiar with his abilities are not surprised in the slightest.

According to Ramirez, "At the end of the day, it is the market that determines your worth. When a club is willing to pay a certain amount for a player, it is because that is the player's true value. And in Moises' case, he is definitely worth the investment. That's just the reality of the situation."

His visit to Santa Domingo, where he established a football school and exhibited his human qualities, becomes even more admirable considering the fact that he had to break a few rules to fulfill his devotion to his family. Ramirez was aware of this when he declined the offer to return home and celebrate his birthday at Independiente del Valle.

After my coaching tenure ended, he confided in me that he had gone home to celebrate his birthday with his family, knowing it would be his last in Ecuador before moving to Europe. Despite this, he showed up for work the very next morning and performed admirably, even though I had originally intended to tell him to take the day off.

"He remains a young boy who finds joy in playing football, and despite his rising fame from Ecuador to the Premier League, he still exudes innocence and occasionally displays naivety when making requests or communicating with others. However, it is precisely this quality that I admire most about him - the fact that he has managed to preserve his childlike spirit amidst the pressures of being in the public eye."