Moises Caicedo: Rising Star from Ecuador Attracting Interest from Premier League Giants Arsenal, Chelsea, and Man Utd

Following his country's elimination from the World Cup last year, while other players were enjoying luxurious vacations at high-end resorts, Moises Caicedo chose to return to his hometown of Santo Domingo, Ecuador. He participated in a local tournament on the very pitch where he honed his skills as a young boy.

Captured in a video that soon gained widespread attention in the country, Caicedo, a highly promising talent in the Premier League who had recently become Ecuador's youngest-ever goal scorer in a World Cup, can be seen once again striking the ball into the back of the net. However, this time, he was playing undercover as a member of Caicedos FC, a team consisting of his extended family members.

Moises' goal, scored at the near post amidst a rundown environment, contributed to Caicedos FC's victory in the tournament. The celebration that followed included a leap, a fist pump, and a gesture of acknowledgement towards the small group of spectators seated or leaning on fences around the field. "Meet Moises," Miguel Angel Ramirez, Caicedo's previous coach at Independiente del Valle, shares with a smile. "He always remembers his roots, returning to his village, his family, and his friends to play football and assist the community. He never forgets where he came from."

Caicedo has undoubtedly achieved his goals.

At the age of 19, he achieved his aspiration of moving to Europe by making a £4.5m transfer from Independiente del Valle to Brighton. Today, merely two years later, he stands as one of the most sought-after young players in the Premier League, with a valuation exceeding £70m.

Caicedo demonstrates a level of composure and maturity that surpasses his youthfulness. However, his jubilant celebration in Santo Domingo revealed the innocent exuberance of a player who is still fondly referred to as 'Niño Moi' in his home country of Ecuador, which translates to 'The Kid Moi' in English.

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"Ramirez, who initially coached Caicedo in Independiente del Valle's youth academy before becoming the head coach of the senior team in 2019, expresses his admiration for the young player. He praises him for his performance in the World Cup, where Caicedo scored a goal for Ecuador in their match against Senegal."

He shed tears in my presence on a couple of occasions. Initially, when I may have displayed aggression towards him during training, he wept like an infant, but he did so with his back turned, in an effort to hide his tears from me.

However, there were other instances where he struggled to hide his emotions, particularly when he had to visit his family who lived a three-hour drive away from his club's main base in the city of Sangolqui,

Recalling the incident, Ramirez remembers that during a period of injury, he recollected how "One day, when he was injured, he asked for permission to return home and commemorate his birthday."

"I declined and replied, 'Moises, you are injured. You need to focus on recovering and returning as soon as possible. Professional players don't get days off. You have to understand that now, you are no longer in the academy. When you join a major club, you can't just ask for a day off to celebrate your birthday with your family. They won't grant it!'"

Ramirez chuckled once again as he mentioned, "Afterwards, he was in the gym, cycling on the bike, crying like a little baby."

During that moment, Ramirez strongly stood his ground, aiming to impart a valuable lesson to Caicedo. However, similar to Brighton's management during the bidding war between Arsenal and Chelsea in January, his stance predominantly stemmed from recognizing Caicedo's crucial role within the team.

In fact, even as a teenager during that period, his talent was so exceptional that while assisting Independiente's U20s in winning the U20 Copa Libertadores in Paraguay in 2020, he frequently traveled to Ecuador to represent Ramirez's senior team.

"He played a crucial role in our first team, but he was also a vital player for the U20s," explains Ramirez. "Therefore, for a duration of approximately one week or ten days, he would participate in U20 matches, then quickly travel back to Quito to compete in the Ecuadorian league for our team, and then return to the Libertadores. It was an unbelievable experience."

Soon, Caicedo began to excel in the senior Libertadores - the South American tournament that is equivalent to the Champions League - and caught the attention of Brazilian powerhouse Flamengo. "He gained global recognition," Ramirez reminisces. "All the top clubs initiated discussions."

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

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Part of what attracted him to Brighton, as well as other Premier League clubs such as Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester United, was his versatility. Caicedo initially started his career as a No 6 in Independiente del Valle's academy. However, under Ramirez's guidance, he was able to adapt and play in a more advanced role as a No 8.

"At the time, we had Cristian Pellerano in the first team, who was an exceptional No 6 with a deep understanding of the game," Ramirez explains. "He acted as a mentor on the field and helped Moises immensely in understanding the game and improving his skills.

"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 quickly recognized that Moises made a greater impact on the game and contributed more to the team as a No. 8. This was because he possessed the skills to score, provide the final pass, infiltrate the penalty area, and he exhibited great aggression in the initial pressing," stated Ramirez.

"As a result, he began to grasp the intricacies of the position. Playing as a No. 8 is more challenging because it involves operating in tight spaces with limited time. It requires adjusting body positioning prior to receiving the ball and processing additional information. Over time, he gradually acquired these essential abilities."

Caicedo expressed a preference for playing as a No 8 rather than a No 6 to Ramirez, who is currently managing Sporting Gijon in Spain. Despite this, at Brighton, Caicedo had to display his versatility and adaptability. Initially, Graham Potter utilized him effectively as a left-sided No 8, following a transitional first year that included a loan stint in Belgium with Beerschot. However, when Roberto De Zerbi took over as Potter's successor, he moved Caicedo back to the base of midfield and occasionally assigned him as a makeshift right-back.

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Moises Caicedo experienced a shift in position when Roberto De Zerbi joined the team. He performed exceptionally well in various positions, starting in 34 out of Brighton's 38 Premier League matches. His crucial contribution played a significant role in the club's most successful season to date, as supported by statistical evidence that highlights his impact both on and off the ball.

He is an elite ball-winner in his division, demonstrating quickness, tenacity, and constant vigilance. Caicedo's exceptional performance this season places him second in both tackles and interceptions, only trailing Joao Palhinha and Declan Rice, respectively. Moreover, in terms of winning possession in the middle third, only Rice and Rodri surpassed him.

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, being instrumental in their offensive plays.

In fact, Caicedo had more touches than all but seven players in the entire Premier League this season. Additionally, only five players - Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Gabriel Magalhaes, Virgil van Dijk, Rodri, and his Brighton teammate Lewis Dunk - completed more passes than him.

It is even more impressive that he ended the campaign with an 89 per cent accuracy rate, especially when you take into account newly-released data revealing that only two players, Rodri and Newcastle's Bruno Guimaraes, completed a higher number of pressured passes (780). His ability to retain possession under pressure is yet another quality he developed during his time in Ecuador, and those who are familiar with him are not surprised by his hefty price tag, which some consider to be overpriced.

"Ultimately, your worth is determined by the market, which speaks for itself. Therefore, when a club presents a fee, it signifies that it corresponds to your abilities," Ramirez explains. "And Moises has reached this level. This is the undeniable reality."

The human qualities demonstrated by him during his visit to Santo Domingo, where he also inaugurated a football school, become even more commendable due to this reality. Despite declining his request to return home and celebrate his birthday at Independiente del Valle, Ramirez discovered that his commitment to his family has occasionally led him to bend the rules. He later confided in me, saying, "Coach, I have to tell you that, on that night, I went home to celebrate with my family because I knew it would be the last time I could be in Ecuador for my birthday before heading to Europe."

However, the following morning, he dutifully showed up for work once more. Although I had intended to tell him he couldn't, he managed to successfully balance celebrating his birthday with promptly returning to work the very next day.

Ultimately, he remains a young boy who takes pleasure in playing football. He possesses an innocence and occasional naivety when it comes to making requests or expressing his thoughts. Yet, it is precisely this aspect that I adore most about him - his unwavering authenticity.

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