Moises Caicedo: From Tearful Teenager to Football's Hottest Property - Arsenal, Chelsea, and Man Utd Battling for His Signature

After his country's elimination from the World Cup last year, while other players were enjoying luxurious vacations, Moises Caicedo chose to return to his hometown of Santo Domingo, Ecuador. He passionately participated in a local tournament, playing on the same humble field where he had honed his skills as a young boy. The video of this remarkable moment quickly spread throughout the country, showcasing Caicedo's talent and determination. Despite being a rising star in the Premier League and having recently become Ecuador's youngest goal scorer at a World Cup, he humbly embraced the opportunity to score once again, this time as a member of Caicedos FC, a team composed of his extended family.

Moises' winning goal, scored at the near post in a dilapidated setting, was instrumental in Caicedos FC's tournament victory. His achievement was commemorated with a leap, a triumphant fist pump, and a gesture of acknowledgement towards the small crowd of spectators seated or leaning on fences surrounding the field.

"This is Moises," Miguel Angel Ramirez, Caicedo's former coach at his childhood club Independiente del Valle, shares with a smile. "Returning to his hometown, reuniting with his family and friends, playing football, and assisting everyone there. He never forgets his community."

Caicedo has undoubtedly achieved success.

He achieved his dream of moving to Europe at the age of 19, securing a transfer worth £4.5m from Independiente del Valle to Brighton. Now, just two years later, he has become one of the most sought-after young players in the Premier League, valued at over £70m.

While Caicedo plays with the maturity and composure of a seasoned player, his joyful celebration in Santo Domingo revealed the innocent enthusiasm of a player who is still affectionately referred to as 'Niño Moi' or 'The Kid Moi' in Ecuador.

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Ramirez, who began coaching Caicedo in Independiente del Valle's youth academy, expressed his admiration for him, highlighting the fact that he is a young player. He further added that he loves Caicedo for his talent and abilities.

He shed tears in my presence on two or three occasions. Initially, there were instances during training where I displayed aggression towards him, and he would cry like a young child. However, he would always ensure his back was turned away from me, so I wouldn't witness his tears.

However, there were other instances, particularly when he had to visit his family, which was a three-hour drive away from his club's base in the city of Sangolqui. During such times, Caicedo found it challenging to hide his emotions.

"One day, during a period of injury, Moises requested permission to go home and celebrate his birthday," Ramirez recalls. "I declined and reminded him, 'Moises, you're injured. You need to focus on recovering and returning as quickly as possible. Professional players don't have days off. You have to understand that now, you're no longer in the academy. When you're part of a major club, you can't ask for a day off to celebrate your birthday with your family, because they won't grant it to you!'"

Ramirez chuckled once more as he continued, "Following that incident, he couldn't help but cry like a baby while cycling in the gym."

In that particular situation, Ramirez's strong position was meant to teach Caicedo a lesson. However, similar to the stance of Brighton's management during the Arsenal and Chelsea bids in January, it was mainly driven by his indispensability to the team.

Even as a teenager, his talent was so remarkable that while helping Independiente's U20s win the U20 Copa Libertadores in Paraguay in 2020, he would occasionally travel back to Ecuador to play for Ramirez's senior team. Ramirez acknowledges his significance to both teams, stating that he was invaluable to the first team and a key player for the U20s. Consequently, he would spend a week or 10 days playing with the U20s, then fly back to Quito to participate in the Ecuadorian league, and then return to the Libertadores. This schedule was truly hectic.

Soon after, Caicedo's brilliance on the grand stage of the senior Libertadores - often referred to as South America's equivalent of the prestigious Champions League - immediately caught the attention of fans and experts alike, with Brazilian giants Flamengo left utterly dazzled. "He commanded global attention," reminisces Ramirez. "The discussion about him quickly spread across the world, capturing the interest of elite clubs."

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

His appeal to Brighton and other Premier League teams like Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester United was attributed to his versatility in adapting to various positions. Initially trained as a midfielder (No 6) in Independiente del Valle's academy, Caicedo later played a more advanced role (No 8) under Ramirez's guidance. Ramirez explains that this transition was facilitated by the presence of Cristian Pellerano, an exceptional midfielder (No 6) with a deep understanding of the game, who acted as a mentor to Moises, aiding in his comprehension and growth as a player.

"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.

"We came to realize at that moment that Moises truly made a greater impact on the game and contributed more to the team as a No. 8. His knack for scoring, providing the final pass, his ability to penetrate the opponent's box, and his relentless aggression in the initial pressure were all factors," Ramirez remarks.

"As a result, he began to grasp the intricacies of the position. It is undoubtedly more challenging since it requires playing in the tight spaces and limited time between the lines. One must adjust their body position prior to receiving the ball and process a wealth of information. Over time, he gradually acquired these essential skills."

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Caicedo expressed his preference to play as a No 8 rather than a No 6 to Ramirez, who is currently managing Sporting Gijon in Spain. However, at Brighton, he had to showcase his versatility and adaptability. Initially, under Graham Potter's management, he excelled as a left-sided No 8 at the beginning of the season, after a year of transition and a loan stint in Belgium with Beerschot. Nevertheless, under Roberto De Zerbi's guidance, Caicedo was shifted back to the defensive midfield position and was occasionally utilized as a makeshift right-back.

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Moises Caicedo's role shifted with the arrival of Roberto De Zerbi. He displayed exceptional performance in various positions, featuring in 34 out of Brighton's 38 Premier League matches. His contribution proved vital in the club's most triumphant season to date, with the statistics serving as evidence of his impact both on and off the ball.

He excels as a ball-winner and is one of the top performers in his division.

With his quickness, combative nature, and constant vigilance, Caicedo stands second in the rankings for tackles and interceptions this season, trailing only Joao Palhinha and Declan Rice, and is only bested by Rice and Rodri in terms of winning possession in the middle third.

That off-the-ball work helped shield Brighton's defence, while also allowing them to dominate opponents by winning back possession swiftly following opposition turnovers.

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Moises Caicedo is influential on and off the ball for Brighton

Caicedo played a crucial role in their build-up play, with only seven players in the Premier League having more touches this season. Additionally, he completed an impressive number of passes, ranking fifth among players such as Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Gabriel Magalhaes, Virgil van Dijk, Rodri, and his Brighton team-mate Lewis Dunk.

It is even more remarkable that he concluded the campaign with an impressive accuracy rate of 89 percent when taking into account recently obtained data that reveals only two players, Rodri and Newcastle's Bruno Guimaraes, made a greater number of pressured passes (780). His skill in maintaining possession under pressure is another testament to the qualities he developed in Ecuador. Consequently, his substantial price-tag, which some may consider inflated, comes as no surprise to those who are familiar with him.

Ultimately, your worth is determined by the market; hence, when a club presents a fee, it is an indication of your skill level," Ramirez explains. "And Moises has reached this prestigious level. This is the undeniable truth."

The human qualities displayed by Ramirez during his visit to Santo Domingo, including the opening of a football school, become even more admirable considering the circumstances. Despite declining his request to return home to celebrate his birthday at Independiente del Valle, Ramirez's commitment to his family has occasionally led him to bend the rules. After he was no longer his coach, Ramirez confessed, "I have to tell you that, one night, I went home to celebrate with my family because I knew it was my last birthday in Ecuador before going to Europe."

The next day, he showed up bright and early, ready to resume work. Despite my initial intention to deter him, he skillfully juggled celebrating his birthday and returning to work promptly.

Ultimately, he remains a boy who takes great pleasure in playing football. His innocence often leads him to make simple requests or express himself naively. However, it is precisely this aspect of his character that I adore the most - his unwavering genuineness.

From Ecuador to the Premier League, Moises Caicedo now counts Ramirez as just one of many admirers.