19     Striker     Atlético Madrid     Argentina

2014 has been…

The first five months of 2014 went exactly as Ángel Correa could have hoped. Having been monitored by Atlético for some time and impressed their scouts enough to warrant a move, San Lorenzo and the Spanish side were able to hammer out a deal for the young forward. The value of the deal varies by as much as five million Euros depending on the source you wish to believe; but the Argentine club will be surely well rewarded for one of the countries’ brightest young forwards.

However, once Correa stepped foot in Madrid his world was turned upside down. Instead of heading back to Argentina in order to help San Lorenzo to a momentous victory in the Copa Libertadores, he may have been left wondering if he would ever kick a football again in a competitive game.

A routine post-transfer medical with his new club identified a heart condition that needed to be corrected as quickly as possible for Correa. The transfer from San Lorenzo was never placed in real doubt but instead of being allowed to play his final two months in Argentina, he had a big decision to make.

Atlético Madrid sought out the advice of world leading experts on the affliction and the player quickly agreed with the medical teams of both the Spanish and Argentine clubs that an immediate procedure in New York was the best course of action. The Spanish league champions admirably focused themselves on getting Correa as healthy as possible before he joined up with their first team squad.

Since June when he flew to America to have the benign tumour removed, Correa’s career has been on pause. In recent weeks he has been given the all clear to resume training and he has finally started to work with his new team-mates while trying to work his way back to full fitness. It will be 2015 before he pulls on the red and white stripes in a competitive match for the first time.

What's next?

Correa is a player that should excel in Spain when he gets the chance. He’s a player that will be comfortable being in and around a distinct number nine, he has pace to burn and two really quick feet. His natural tendency is work the ball on his stronger right foot and finish powerfully.

Such characteristics have led to comparisons with former Atlético striker Sergio Aguero but they are wide of the mark for us. Ángel is some way off being the player to lead the line all by himself in La Liga. Instead, he should become a provider to the attacking talents already playing under Diego Simeone and do very nicely.

He won’t need too many chances to find the back of the net, although he isn’t selfish forward player at all. His eye for a pass is pretty good and we feel pretty confident that Mario Mandzukic will really enjoy having him buzzing around behind him.

For now the focus has to be on making a complete recover from the heart surgery. Once that is completely behind him he’s got time to recapture the form that drew the interest of the Champions League finalists.

"Repeatedly called ‘the new Agüero’, 19 year-old Correa is more like the new Peter Beardsley – a two-footed, persistent and wonderfully creative second striker. A title-winner in his first full season as a pro with San Lorenzo, he secured a dream move to Atlético, where the discovery of a tumour on his heart ruled him out of action until 2015. A full recovery is expected and a big future lies ahead." - Rob Brown

"Correa played a hand in 25 league goals for San Lorenzo (10 goals and 15 assists) in 48 league appearances." - OptaJoe

D     Feels harsh but things are on pause for now

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